KULAI, Johor: The two Singaporeans reported missing in Johor’s Gunung Pulai forest reserve since Monday have been found.
At about 11.20am on Thursday (Feb 8), Johor police said the duo had been spotted by a helicopter at Ulu Choh Pontian, which is near a lake. The couple had said during a distress call earlier that they were near a body of water.
As authorities were unable to land the helicopter in the area, a boat has been deployed to pick them up.
About 50 people including police officers, park rangers, members of the Fire and Rescue Department, as well as volunteers from Singapore and Malaysia climbing groups had been involved in search and rescue operations.
Chronology of events to do with the Gunung Pulai search-and-rescue. (Photo: Amir Yusof)
The duo was identified as Mr Dominick Tan Chang Xiang and Ms Clarice Lum Jie, both 27. Mr Tan was said to be an experienced mountain climber who had hiked Gunung Pulai many times.
Johor police chief Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd had said in a media briefing on Wednesday that it had never taken this long to find anyone reported missing in the Gunung Pulai Forest Reserve.
Earlier, Singapore volunteer Steven Tan, who headed search operations for the climbing group Thousand Adventure, told Channel NewsAsia that it was heartening to see so many Singaporeans taking time off work to participate.
A record of the rescuers’ conversation with the missing Singaporeans via telephone. (Photo: Amir Yusof)
“The response has been so positive. We had more than 20 volunteers from Singapore both yesterday and today,” said Mr Tan.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.
