Participants of the 11th Rainforest Challenge expedition are stuck in the Sungai Ebay forest, Malaysian northern state of Kelantan, as rising water has cut off their route out of the jungle, local media reported on Monday.
The event attracted 350 competitors with 120 vehicles from 46 countries, a spokesman for the organizer said.
A total of 178 participants have been unable to leave the area with their four-wheel drive vehicles since Friday, while 91 others managed to do so.
The group had separated into two groups, State deputy police chief Amir Hamzah Ibrahim said.
Of the 91 participants who managed to leave the area, 75 reached Kuala Terengganu, capital city of northern Terengganu state, which was the expedition's final destination, while 16 others stopped over at Kampung Miah village in Gua Musang, Kelantan as the path was inundated by water.
The police have established an operation base in Kelantan state and are working on a rescue plan to reach 178.
The team was waiting for a police helicopter from Kuala Lumpur to help them in the rescue operation, Amir said.
"It is raining heavily and it will be difficult to carry out any airlift operations, so we are looking at the alternatives," the New Straits Times quoted Amir as saying.
The rescue team was facing difficulties because the expedition members were in the interior and separated, he said.
"We are trying to send food and other essentials in and are waiting for a helicopter to do the air drop," he said.
The adventure event, with participants from local and international teams, is held annually at the end of the year.
The expedition began from Jertih, Terengganu on Dec. 1 and was scheduled to end in Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
Source: Xinhua
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