Stay away from 14 Hulu Selangor rivers, waterfalls amid water surge danger, Fire Dept warns; Pertak, Siling, Batang Kali top hotspots

HULU SELANGOR, Nov 11 — Fourteen recreational areas in Hulu Selangor have been identified as high-risk locations for water surges, with Sungai Pertak, Sungai Siling and Sungai Batang Kali emerging as the three main hotspots.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations assistant director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said Sungai Batang Kali recorded four water surge incidents this year, followed by Sungai Siling with three and Sungai Pertak with two.

“Of the nine incidents recorded at these three locations, only the one at Sungai Pertak involved victims, while the others did not result in any casualties,” he told Bernama at the JBPM Forward Control Post at Jambatan Pertak here today.

He said the other 11 high-risk locations were Lata Medang in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Sungai Inki in Kalumpang, River View Sungai Bernam in Hulu Selangor, Sungai Sendat and Sungai Tua in Ulu Yam, Sungai Kedondong in Batang Kali, Sungai Cilin in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Sungai Pinang in Batang Kali, Air Terjun Serendah in Serendah, Air Terjun Semangkuk and Sungai Liam in Hulu Selangor.

In view of the north-east monsoon, Ashrul Riezal advised the public to temporarily suspend water-based recreational activities to avoid untoward incidents.

He said the advisory was aimed at raising awareness among local communities and visitors about the dangers of sudden water surges, particularly amid unpredictable weather conditions.

Eight people, comprising one Malaysian and seven foreigners, were swept away by strong currents during a water surge at Sungai Pertak at about 5.30pm last Monday.

Five were found drowned, including Malaysian V. Vijayan, 36, Nepalese national Kapali, 49, and Indian national B. Kunjanmalayil, 35. The identities of the other two, an Indian and a Sri Lankan, are being established.

The search continues for the remaining three victims, comprising two Indian nationals and a Yemeni. — Bernama