KUALA KEDAH: A swimming outing for two sisters and their friend near a fish landing jetty turned tragic when the elder sister is feared to have drowned.

The missing girl is Noraini Maisarah Musa, 10, while her younger sister Ayu Wan Mira, nine, and their friend Nor Alisya Natasya Yahya, also nine, have been rescued by fishermen.

Jalan Raja fire and rescue station operations chief Mohd Jamaludin Mat Yusop said the incident happened at about 6.40pm yesterday, at the jetty of a river near Kampung Sematang Pinang, about 15km from Alor Setar.

He said some 20 people were involved in the search and rescue mission of the three primary school girls.

Speaking to reporters, Nor Alisya, said the three of them, all from Kampung Kuala Sala, had gone to the river to learn swimming.

“We went there because the river seemed shallow. None of us know how to swim. After a few minutes of swimming, Noraini and Ayu decided to swim much further,” she said.

She added that she suddenly saw both sisters facing some problems in the water and could not swim back towards the riverbank.

“I screamed for help. Fishermen nearby helped Ayu but Noraini went missing,” she said.

The rescued girls were sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for further treatment.

-The Star