KOTA BELUD, May 22 -- Five men who were conducting land surveying work and became stranded across a river due to swift currents in Kampung Melangkap, here, on Wednesday, were rescued in a challenging operation that lasted until Thursday morning.

The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre received an emergency call at 4.48pm on Wednesday, prompting eight personnel from Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) to the scene, located approximately 35km away.

Station Chief Elge Bakuk said upon arriving at the main road near the location at 6.33pm, the firefighters trekked 5km through the jungle and along the riverbank before locating the victims at 12.45am.

He said the operation faced difficulties due to the hilly and ste...