Baling flood: Bodies of two victims found hugging each other

BALING - The bodies a pregnant woman and her mother-in-law who were swept away during a mud flood in Kampung Iboi, Kupang, here, were found in a hugging position.

Nurul Anis Abu Hassan, 23, and Salmah Mat Akib, 53, were found under a pile of tree trunks by the Kedah Fire and Rescue Department at about 9.30am on Tuesday.

Its senior assistant fire commissioner Sayani Saidon said both of the victims were found about 100 metres from their house which was destroyed by the flood.

"The rescue team were divided into three and the search operations started from 8am. At 9.30am, the first victim found was Nurul Anis and 15 minutes later we found the second victim, Salmah.

"Both were found under a pile of tree trunks and the process to extract the victims were carefully done to prevent injuries to the bodies," he said in a press conference in Kampung Iboi on Tuesday.

He said the fire and rescue personnel saw Nurul Anis' feet first before both victims were found.

"The search for the third victim (Khairul Ikwan Nor Azman) is still underway and we will expand our search area," he said.

Earlier, Sinar Harian reported that a woman who was recovering from stroke and her daughter in-law were reported missing after their house was washed away by the deep currents in the incident in Kapung Iboi, Kupang.

All victims, Salmah, Nurul Anis, and Khairul Ikwan, 14, a student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jerai were believed to be at home around 5pm when the incident happened.

Baling district police chief Superintendent Shamsudin Mamat said they received a distress call from Salmah's husband Abdul Rahman Said, 71, who said he received a call from Nurul Anis who told him that their neighbour's house was hit by the flood.