Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) today expanded its search and rescue (SAR) operation to a five-kilometre radius to locate a 15-year-old boy feared drowned in Sungai Kuantan near Jalan Indera Mahkota 15/7, Bandar Indera Mahkota. Pahang JBPM director Mohd Razam Taja Rahim said the operation, which began at 8 am, involves 42 personnel from JBPM, Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Razam Taja Rahim stated, ‘We are combing the riverbanks using boats. We have also deployed drones to locate Muhammad Isyraf Danish Razmi,’ he told reporters at the scene today, while dismissing public speculation that the victim had been attacked by a crocodile.

‘We do not believe it was a crocodile attack, as no eyewitnesses reported any such incident. They only heard a splash when the victim fell into the river. The riverbank is slippery and the soil structure unstable, which likely caused the fall,’ he said.

Mohd Razam also advised the public against making unfounded speculations that could cause unnecessary panic or distress to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, the victim’s father, Razmi Yaacob, 56, said he was unaware that Muhammad Isyraf Danish had gone to the area to fish, as his son usually spent his evenings playing football with friends. ‘But this isn’t his first time fishing. I often take him along with me,’ he said.