Search for missing hiker at Gunung Batu Putih enters critical phase

PETALING JAYA: The search for hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who went missing while climbing Gunung Batu Putih in Tapah, Perak, on May 23, has entered a critical phase after more than 72 hours.

State fire and rescue department (JBPM) director Sayani Saidon said more personnel had been deployed and the search area expanded to locations where the victim might have gone in search of food and water.

The search will now focus on the area along Sungai Ayer Busok, where the victim may have gone to find water.

“Given the victim’s experience, we believe she is capable of surviving while the search continues.

“We believe she will try to locate a water source to sustain herself and is likely to head towards Sungai Ayer Busok, which is near Gunung Batu Putih,” Bernama reported her as saying at Pos Kuala Poh.

Sayani said 36 personnel from JBPM and the police were deployed today to the Kem Sukaneka and Gunung Rayu areas, with assistance from the General Operations Force, the forestry department and mountain guides.

She said the department had also cleared an area of about 100 sq ft at Kem Salai Matahari to facilitate helicopter evacuations or logistics operations, as the existing winching points at Bukit Batu Putih and Bukit Berapit 2 are too far from the primary search area.

Sayani said the steep, mountainous terrain posed a challenge for the rescue team, with travel to some search locations taking seven to eight hours.

Jaslinda reportedly began the Trans Spencer Chapman trail at 2am on May 23 with 13 other hikers and two mountain guides via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.

She and another hiker, Hanafi Neikmad, 41, reportedly experienced health problems and stopped along the trail. However, Jaslinda later continued alone towards the summit and was last seen by a mountain guide at 7.30am on May 24.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today