Siblings drown in Sungai Balak

Two brothers drowned while bathing in Sungai Balak in Kampung Simpang Balak, Kajang, here this afternoon.

The body of Muhammad Afizuddin Ahmad Tarmizi, 13, was found by the search-and-rescue team stuck in mud at the bottom of the river at 5.42pm, about 20 metres from where the brothers were reported missing.

The body of his brother, Ahmad Basri, 11, was found about 30 minutes later.

Kajang District Police Chief ACP Othman Nanyan said early investigations found that the two victims had gone fishing in the river with two other friends, aged 12 and 13, before the two brothers went down into the water to bathe at about 3pm.

"While they were in the water, the elder boy was believed to have drowned and his younger brother tried to save him but they both drowned when they were swept by the current," he told Bernama.

Othman said the bodies of both the victims were taken to the Kajang Hospital for a post-mortem. - BERNAMA