SERDANG: A family of five were swept away by a water surge in Kota Perdana, near Seri Kembangan yesterday.
The Indonesian family were swept away while fishing in a monsoon drain in the area.
Serdang district police chief, Assistant Commissioner A A Anbalagan said the father, Ahmad Suriadi, 40, said that the family had come to the area several times before to fish, selling their catch for additional income.
The man, he said, has been living in the country for 10 years on contract work but not permanently.
In the incident which occurred at about 5pm, a sudden water surge in the monsoon drain caused Ahmad Suriadi, his wife and three children aged between four and 10, to slip at the location and be swept into a river in Kota Perdana.
Ahmad Suriadi, who survived, contacted the MERS999 hotline for help. One of his three children, nine-year-old Mohd Alif, was found safe by members of the public at 5.30pm.
At 7pm, the body of one of his sons, Mohd Diham, 10, was found about one kilometre from the location where they fell and was taken to Serdang Hospital for post-mortem.
As of now, operations are still underway to locate the other two missing victims, Ahmad Suriadi's wife, known as Juliana, 38, and their youngest daughter, Riska Amelia, aged four.
Meanwhile, Anbalagan reminded the public that the location is not a fishing spot, although there are individuals who come to the area to catch fish for sale.
"Although he survived, the male victim (Ahmad Suriadi) suffered minor injuries from hitting a tree, while his surviving child did not sustain any injuries," he said.