JERANTUT: The 102 tourists trapped at the Mutiara Taman Negara Resort in Kuala Tahan heaved a sigh of relief when the Fire and Rescue Department arrived with much needed food supplies.

The department sent more than four boatloads of food supplies for the tourists and residents in the area.

Jerantut district officer Ali Syahbana Sabaruddin said the tourists were safe and would be transported by boat to relief centres in Kuala Tahan before being flown by helicopter to Jerantut town.

Apart from Malaysians, the tourists were from Germany, France, Canada and the Czech Republic.

Ali, who coordinated the operation, said the tourists had run out of food and were thankful to nearby residents who braved strong currents to send them whatever food they had.

“Only a skilful person can control the boat in the strong currents although the distance between the (nearest) village and Mutiara Taman Negara is only 10m,” he said.

Eleven members from the Jerantut fire station, led by Senior Supt II Shahrin Yusmar, were involved in the operation.

The tourists became stranded after the water level at Sungai Tembeling rose to 76.56m on Tuesday – way past the danger level of 68m.
-TheStar-