Three people have died, and another is missing after a mud flood incident at Bertam Valley, Cameron Highlands.
At about midnight today, water from the Sultan Abu Bakar dam was released upon reaching the danger level to prevent the dam from bursting. The second release happened at 1a.m., and the third at 2:45a.m., which caused water in the Bertram River to suddenly overflow its banks.
Circa 80 houses nearby were affected by the overflow, and about 10 kongsi houses along the banks of Bertram River were completely destroyed.
Two foreign nationals were found dead, presumably from drowning, and are identified as Md Jahangir Alam from Bangladesh and Kesmat from Indonesia. The other deceased was a 51-year-old local man, Tam Tuck Choi, who passed away on the way to the hospital in Tanah Rata after suffering from a heart attack caused by the incident.
A 17-year-old girl Indonesian girl is still missing and the search and rescue team are currently doing their best to look for her.
Cameron Highlands police chief Deputy Superintendent Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said that 20 families in the affected area have been evacuated to the Ringlet community hall. Around 100 vehicles were also damaged following the tragic mud flood.
