Four 16-Year-Old Boys Feared Drowned Off Tanjung Lompat Beach in Kota Tinggi

KOTA TINGGI, Sept 2 — Four 16-year-old boys are feared to have drowned while swimming at Tanjung Lompat Beach near Tanjung Balau, Penawar, this morning.

The Johor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre received an emergency call at 8:19 am regarding the incident, prompting the immediate deployment of a six-man team from the Bandar Penawar Fire and Rescue Station to the scene.

Initial public reports indicated that six teenagers encountered severe difficulties while swimming in the sea. Two of the victims were successfully rescued by members of the public at approximately 7:45 am prior to the arrival of the emergency response team.

“Initial information from members of the public indicated that six victims had got into difficulties while swimming at the beach. Two of the victims were rescued by members of the public at 7.45 am before the Operations Response Team arrived at the scene,” the department said in a statement.

The JBPM identified the four missing teenagers as Alif Taqiudin, Mohd Haiman, Adib Rizqi, and Thaqif Rayyan.

The victims were among a group of 15 teenagers who had set up camp in the beach area starting at 6:30 pm yesterday. A multi-agency search-and-rescue (SAR) operation remains ongoing to locate the four missing youths.

–NMT