Family of 6 found dead in submerged car in river in Kedah, Malaysia

ALOR SETAR - Six members of a family, who had been reported missing since July 5, were found inside a car submerged in Sungai Korok, according to the Kedah Fire and Rescue Department.

Senior Fire Superintendent Ahmad Aminuddin Abd Rahim, Zone 1 chief of the department, said the victims were found inside their car during a search operation earlier on July 7.

“We have successfully retrieved the bodies of four victims and brought them to the riverbank. The remaining two, believed to be the husband and wife, have yet to be removed from the vehicle,” broadcaster Astro Awani quoted him as saying at the scene of the incident on July 7.

Supt Ahmad Aminuddin said firefighters had to cut open the roof of the vehicle to remove the victims.

All the victims were found in the back seat of the car, which was completely submerged in the river bed, reported Sinar Harian newspaper.

“It is possible that they tried to get out,” Supt Ahmad Aminuddin said.

He added that the distance between the location of the sunken car and the riverbank was only about 1m, while the estimated depth of the river was 6m, with a width of around 7.6m.

“The operation was not too difficult because the car is already floating and can be pulled to the bank,” he said.

Earlier reports stated that six individuals, including a six-month-old baby, were feared missing after the family lost contact with relatives on July 5.

The victims have been identified as Mr Mohd Azim Ezzat Ishak, 32, his wife Nurul Hidayah Khalijah Razman Effendy, 31, and their four children aged between six months and nine years.

The family had spent the night at a relative’s house in Taman Aman, Jitra, but failed to return to their home in Jerlun.

Kubang Pasu OCPD, Superintendent Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahim, confirmed that a police report had been lodged regarding the disappearance.

The authorities are still working to recover the remaining bodies and determine the cause of the incident. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK