Two siblings feared drowned after falling off suspension bridge in Rompin

KUANTAN: Two siblings are feared drowned after falling into a river when their mother lost control of her motorcycle while passing through the Kampung Rekoh suspension bridge in Rompin today.

Acting Rompin district police chief ASP Mohd Isa Bidin said the incident happened at 11.15 am and the victims were identified as Dhenis Maulida Puteri Masari, seven, and her sister Puteri Ramadhania Azzahra, three.

The victims and their mother, known only as Liswati, 37, were believed to be on their way home in an oil palm plantation there after picking up Dhenis Maulida who finished her pre-school session at Sekolah Kebangsaan Keratong 1.

"The mother was said to have lost her balance on the motorcycle about five metres before reaching the riverbank thus causing them to fall, with the two young victims falling into the river.

"There are nets installed on both sides of the suspension bridge but it is understood that due to lack of maintenance, there are large holes in several places," he said when contacted, here, today.

Mohd Isa said the bridge was often used by the locals as a shortcut and it was understood that Liswati survived as she landed in the net.

The victims' father, an Indonesian named Masari, works in an oil palm plantation in Kampung Rekoh.

Mohd Isa said a search and rescue operation was currently being carried out by 30 officers and personnel of various agencies including the police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force.

-- BERNAMA