Kuala nerus: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for a five-year-old boy feared drowned at Pantai Batu Rakit resumed at 9 am today. Kuala Nerus Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Azmi Omar stated that the search area has been expanded to cover an eight-kilometre stretch along the beach.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a total of 26 rescue personnel have been deployed for search operations along the coastline and at sea using a Kevlar boat. The personnel include members from the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Civil Defence Force (APM), and the Volunteer Fire Brigade. They are facing challenges due to adverse weather conditions, high waves, and strong currents since last night, as mentioned by Azmi Omar at the SAR Control Centre (PKB) at the beach.
In the incident that occurred at about 6.43 pm yesterday, the boy, identified as Muhammad Zarif Mohd Hazahari, was feared drowned after being swept away by waves. At the time, he was playing by the beach with his aunt and was reportedly washing his feet at the water's edge when he was swept away and disappeared, believed to have drowned in the area.
Meanwhile, the boy's mother, Siti Hajar Ismail, 42, expressed her hope that the rescue team will locate her son, whether alive or deceased. She mentioned that on the day of the incident, her son, the fifth of six siblings, had gone to the beach with his aunt, Siti Nurul Aina Sahirah Ismail, 31, and two male cousins for an outing. Siti Hajar conveyed her distress, stating that she could not sleep all night worrying about Muhammad Zarif's fate at sea. She expressed her hope for his safety but also her readiness to accept the reality should it be otherwise, wishing for his body to be found soon, in whatever condition.
Siti Hajar further shared that Muhammad Zarif was supposed to start school at a Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (PASTI) near their home tomorrow. She added that in addition to the ongoing SAR operation, her mother, Khatijah Yusof, 65, has been continuously reciting the Quran at the incident site since yesterday afternoon, as an additional effort to pray for Muhammad Zarif's safe return.