HULU TERENGGANU: The search and rescue (SAR) operation continues for a 15-year-old Rohingya Tahfiz student who went missing after he was swept away by strong current.
It is understood that the teen jumped into Sungai Terengganu in Kampung Gaung here yesterday in order to save a friend.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Adli Mat Daud said as of 6pm today, the victim, identified as Mohd Rahim Salleh from Madrasah Hidayah Rohingya Datuk Abd Rahman in Kuala Berang, has yet to be found.
Adli said so far 61 SAR members were involved in the second-day operation which started at 8am.
"Among those involved in the operation are 17 policemen including three marine officers and six divers with three boats, 22 members of Fire and Rescue Department officers including eight divers and three boats, 14 Civil Defence officers and seven volunteers," he said at the scene today.
Rahim and a friend, Sayid Amin Zainal Amin, 14, had jumped into the river to help Mohd Yunus Idris, 13, who got into difficulties, while swimming, in the 4pm incident.
Another friend, Mohd Jubair Mohd Yunus, 12, said he and another friend, Mohd Yasir Nuralam, 14, also jumped into the river, to help in the rescue, but was swept away by the current.
Fortunately, Mohd Jubair, Yunus and Sayid, were saved by an angler, while Yasir managed to swim to safety.
All the boys are Rohingya students at Madrasah Hidayah Rohingya Taman Datuk Abdul Rahman, Kuala Berang.
Adli said police received a report on the incident at 4.45pm, following which a search and rescue operation was mounted by the Fire and Rescue Department.