The victims, aged between 25 and 58, were part of a group of 17 who entered the area for hiking, Berita Harian reported.

The group was swept away by a water surge which resulted in six people going missing, two sustaining injuries, and nine becoming trapped.

Lahad Datu fire and rescue department chief Sumsoa Rashid said an emergency call about the incident was received at 8.28pm.

“The rescue team reached the scene at 9.36pm to immediately begin operations to rescue the nine trapped victims.

“Three bodies were found trapped under logs at 1.37am, and efforts to retrieve them are ongoing.

“However, the identities of the three victims found have not yet been confirmed, while the search for the remaining three victims continues,” he was quoted as saying.

Sumsoa said the emergency medical response services gave immediate treatment to the injured victims before handing them over to the police for further action.

“The operation was halted at 1.40am due to bad weather and poor lighting. It resumed at 6am, with assistance from the police, civil defence force, and forestry department,” he said.