Malaysian family of 6, including baby, found dead in car in river
Six members of a Malaysian family, including a six-month-old baby, were found dead in their car submerged in the Sungai Korok river, Kedah.
The family had been reported missing since July 5 when they failed to return home to Jerlun after spending the night at a relative’s house in Taman Aman, Jitra, The Star reported.
The Kedah Fire and Rescue Department said the bodies were found on July 7 during a search operation.
Senior Fire Superintendent Ahmad Aminuddin Abd Rahim, Zone 1 chief, said four bodies had been retrieved and brought to the riverbank, while two others, believed to be the parents, remained inside the vehicle at the time.
Firefighters had to cut open the roof to remove the victims, all of whom were found in the back seat. Authorities believe they may have been trying to escape as the car sank, Sinar Harian reported.
The car was only about 1 meter from the riverbank, submerged at a depth of around 6 meters, Ahmad Aminuddin said, adding that the operation was not too difficult as the vehicle was already floating and could be pulled to shore.
The victims were identified as Mohd Azim Ezzat Ishak, 32, his wife Nurul Hidayah Khalijah Razman Effendy, 31, and their four children aged between six months and nine years.
Authorities are continuing recovery efforts and investigating the cause of the tragedy.