Blocked trails delayed six hikers’ return from Gunung Gerah, says Perak Fire Dept

GERIK, 8 Sept — The closure and obstruction of hiking trails that have not been used for a long time were the main reasons why the six hikers took a longer time to make their way before they were found safe last night, after participating in the Trans Gerah Expedition at Gunung Gerah, Kelantan, on August 29.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Datuk Sayani Saidon said the hikers found that the trails at Gunung Beratoh and Gunung Sepat were closed due to these factors.

“When they reached Gunung Beratoh and Gunung Sepat, the found that the trails to both these hills were closed as they had not been used by hikers for a long time.

“Due to the difficulties faced, such as fallen trees, it resulted in them taking a longer time (to make their way out),” she said when met at Jeti Trojan, Tasik Banding, here today.

She said the hiking area’s lack of communication coverage also contributed to the loss of contact, thereby sparking concerns among the victims’ families before a police report was lodged.

The victims, she said, managed to reach Bukit Bongok and obtained a mobile phone signal to contact their families, enabling their exact location to be determined and for them to be safely rescued.

Earlier, the six hikers safely made their way out of Pos Kemar at 10.20am today via Jeti Trojan here.

The six — Wan Ahmad Aslam Wan Zairudin, 39; his wife Siti Zulaiha Norizan, 39; their children Diya Raisha, 13, and Ahmad Raef, 9; as well mountain guides Shafiee Sidek, 49, and Hazman Mamat, 43 — were found safe last night before being taken for a health check-up by medical officers at the Pos Kemar Health Clinic.

Previously, the six were reported missing after they went hiking at the mountain on August 29 and failed to exit the forest by the scheduled date, which was September 3, and family members lodged a police report on Sunday (September 6). — Bernama