DUNGUN: A man is feared to have drowned after his motorcycle was swept away by floodwaters while attempting to cross a submerged main road at a palm oil plantation in Felda Kerteh 3, near here, early yesterday morning.
The incident occurred at 5am, when the victim was riding his motorcycle behind a lorry driven by a friend.
As they crossed the flooded road, the victim's motorcycle was suddenly swept away by the strong current.
District police chief Superintendent Maizura Abdul Kadir confirmed the incident.
She said the victim's friends, who were in the lorry, managed to cross the road safely. However, upon realising the victim had been swept away, they attempted to rescue him.
"They tried to help when they noticed what had happened, but the victim was no longer visible and is believed to have been carried away by the current," she added.
The police received a report about the incident at 10pm yesterday.
A search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched at 7am today, involving the police, the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), and assistance from local residents.
The victim's motorcycle was located near the scene, submerged in water about a metre deep.
As of now, the victim has not been found, and search efforts are ongoing.