Perak fire and rescue department director Sayani Saidon said the group, which consisted of 22 participants from the Seberang Perai Tengah and Langkawi branches of the public works department (JKR), entered the river at 3.30pm with six guides.

In a statement, she said the fire and rescue department received an emergency call at 5.56pm and a team of 10 personnel was dispatched to the locations where the victims were found.

Sayani said the victims were brought to the riverbank by members of the public and were confirmed dead by health ministry personnel.

Their bodies were later sent to Kampar Hospital.

Meanwhile, works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi expressed his condolences and extended his sympathies to the victims’ families in a Facebook post.

He said he has requested the ministry and JKR teams in the affected states to provide necessary assistance and support to the families of the victims.