Missing hikers on Mount Matang yet to be found

KUCHING: Two men found themselves stranded on Mount Matang after they lost their bearings along a temple trail yesterday (Jan 2).

A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said they were alerted to the incident by one of the victims at 7.38 pm, who shared their last location via WhatsApp.

Firemen from Petra Jaya station and the police were promptly dispatched to the scene.

A team of rescuers, joined by local villagers and a local guide, reached the victims’ last location at 9.40 pm, only to discover the hikers were not there.

The rescuers managed to contact the victims again at 10 pm, and were told by the hikers that they would soon be uncontactable due to their phones’ low battery.

Both men were advised to stay put in their current location and not to wander around.

The operation was called off at 11.50 pm due to poor visibility and rainy weather.

The search continued this morning at 8.30 am and at the time of writing, both hikers have yet to be found.