19 hikers rescued after four-hour ordeal at Lata Debu [WATCH]

At around 4.11pm today, the District fire and rescue station in Baling received a distress call regarding a group of hikers trapped in a flash flood at Lata Debu. Leading the eight-member firefighting team was Zulkhairi Mat Tanjil, who explained they had to cover a distance of 2km to reach the location. Upon their arrival, they found 19 people, comprising nine women and 10 men aged between 20 and 25, believed to have been trapped by the flash flood while descending. The victims were said to have been hiking when the incident occurred.

The rescuers utilized a river-crossing method employing ropes to rescue the victims one by one, a process that took nearly four hours due to slippery rocks and strong river currents. The heavy rain that fell in the district for almost two hours had caused the flash flood. All the victims were rescued safely, and the operation concluded at 8.10pm, with the individuals being handed over to the police.

This is the second such operation in Lata Debu this month; the first took place last Sunday when one person fainted and two others went missing. Lata Debu is known for its scenic beauty, attracting many hikers.