Sunday December 9, 2007
Collapsed bridge traps expedition participants
By IAN MCINTYRE and C.A. ZULKIFLE
KUALA KRAI: Some 100 participants of an international rainforest four-wheel drive (4WD) expedition challenge are now trapped inside a forest by rising floodwaters and torrential rainfall near Sungai Trong, some 200km from Kota Baru.
The participants from Denmark, Italy, Britain, Indonesia, Holland, Poland, Germany, Australia, Canada, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia are running out of food and drinking water.
The participants, flagged off from Bukit Bintang, Jertih, last Saturday by Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, made their way into the forest on Sunday and were crossing an area called the “48th elephant mark hole” when the bridge they had driven over was washed away at around 8am yesterday.
Around 60 vehicles are believed to be trapped in two locations – Sungai Trong at the border between Kuala Krai and Gua Musang and at Aring, some 60km away.
According to a spectator, Wan Ali Azhar Wan Aziz, 39, who was following the expedition, the area was inaccessible due to the terrain and now made worse by the rising floodwaters, while communication was poor.
Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (training) Ismail Abdul Ghani has led a team of 10 firemen to the area but they have yet to make contact with the stranded participants.
“We cannot call in air rescue as the weather does not permit it,” Ismail said.
Kuala Krai Deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Abdul Rahim Che Ghani said the participants would have abandoned their vehicles to get to high ground.
“They may escape the floods but I believe they have run out of food and water,” he said.
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