Missing six took 'most challenging' Trans GBB route, unsuitable for children
SUNGAI SIPUT: The route taken by six hikers reported missing in Gua Musang is the most challenging of the available trails, according to a mountain guide.
On August 29, six hikers, including a family of four and two mountain guides, entered the forest via Pos Dakoh in Gua Musang, opting for one of the most challenging routes in the Trans GBB trail system. Mountain Guides Association (MGP) member Muhammad Qaiyum Ahmad revealed that the group chose the rarely used trail, which typically takes six to seven days to complete, compared to the standard four to five days.
The Perak route, the most difficult of the two routes in GBB, was selected for this expedition. A four-day search operation commenced today, with rescuers prepared to traverse some of the most challenging and rarely used trails in the area. MGP teams from both Perak and Kelantan converged at the Orang Asli One Stop Centre in Bawong before embarking on the search and rescue mission at 11 am.
The missing individuals, comprising two children aged 9 and 13, were reported missing to Gua Musang police after failing to emerge by September 3. The search team will reside at Kem Agik overnight and split into two groups tomorrow, one following Laluan Belatuh and the other Kem Sarsi route, the primary path towards GBB, also known as Trans GBB.
The team anticipates facing challenging terrain, weather conditions, and potential health issues during the operation, with provisions such as rice, sardines, instant noodles, snacks, and water for three days, plus a fourth day as a backup. MGP member Mohd Osman Hassan expressed concern for the group's safety, stating that the terrain and temperatures could be extreme, especially for children.
He believes the likelihood of the group becoming lost is low, attributing the high navigational skills of the accompanying mountain guides to their expertise in jungle navigation, map reading, and compass usage. The search operation is a collaborative effort between MGP Perak, MGP Kelantan, and local authorities, with about 12 MGP personnel from both states mobilized for the mission.
The team remains optimistic and prepared to remain in the jungle for up to four days, hopeful for a positive outcome in locating the missing hikers.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
