As of 10pm, police said at least five victims were still missing while three were rescued.

Sungai Buloh district police chief Supt S Somu said the victims who were still missing were two women, aged 31 and 48, a 14-year-old boy and two men in their 30s.

“The incident was believed to have been caused by sudden strong currents which hit them while they were fishing along the riverbank,” he told reporters at the scene.

Police did not discount the possibility that there would be more victims as initial information indicated that there were other groups of anglers in the area at that time.

Police urged relatives missing members of their families to contact them.

The search involved a 7km stretch downriver until Paya Jaras. The search team is also searching under the Jalan Merbau Sempak bridge.