AT A GLANCE
- Missing teenager: A massive search and rescue operation is underway for 19-year-old Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul, who went missing on May 23 while descending Bukit Changkat Asa alone ahead of her hiking group.
- Expanding search grid: Over 70 personnel from multiple agencies, alongside tracker dogs and thermal imaging drones, have combed the forest trails near the Perak-Selangor border.
- Dual-angle probe: With her mobile phone switched off and untraceable, police have expanded the investigation beyond the physical terrain to look into external factors, interviewing friends, colleagues, and relatives.
- Family holding hope: The teenager's father expressed that the family is preparing themselves emotionally for any outcome while praying for her swift recovery.
SHAH ALAM - Search and rescue teams in Selangor and Perak have been racing against time to locate teenager Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul, who disappeared while descending Bukit Changkat Asa near Tanjong Malim during a family hiking trip on May 23.
The case has drawn widespread public attention as authorities continue combing forest trails, deploying tracker dogs and thermal drones, while simultaneously investigating possible external factors surrounding her disappearance.
How Did The Incident Happen?
According to authorities, 19-year-old Izzati had been hiking at Bukit Changkat Asa in Hulu Bernam with family members and friends on Saturday morning.
Hulu Selangor District Police chief Assistant Commissioner Ibrahim Husin said initial investigations found that the group began their hike at 8.40am.
At around 10.50am, Izzati reportedly told her mother she was exhausted and struggling with the heat. She then asked for the car keys and decided to walk down the hill alone ahead of the group.
“However, when the victim's mother reached the vehicle at 11.35am, she found that the victim was not there and is believed to have gone missing while making her way down the hill alone,” Ibrahim said.
The teenager was last seen wearing a long brown hijab, a dark green long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and blue shoes.
When Did Search Operations Begin?
The Perak Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 1.26pm on May 23.
Operations division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said firefighters were immediately dispatched to the area after reports emerged that the teenager may have become lost while descending the hill.
“Nur Izzati is believed to have gotten lost while descending the hill during a hike with five friends and family members,” he said.
Initial searches began near the last known location where she was seen before operations were suspended at 7pm due to nightfall.
Responsibility for continued operations was later handed over to the Kuala Kubu Baru Fire and Rescue Department.
How Large Is The Search Effort?
By May 24 and May 25, the operation had expanded significantly.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations division assistant director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said search teams covered approximately 0.436 square kilometres on May 24 alone.
A total of 76 personnel, including firefighters, volunteers, NGO members and handlers with two tracker dogs, participated in the operation.
“The victim has yet to be found,” Mukhlis said, adding that operations resumed daily beginning at 9am before being suspended in the evening.
Authorities later confirmed that at least 51 personnel from multiple agencies were involved, including police, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, the Social Welfare Department, mountain guides and volunteers.
On May 25, police also revealed that drones equipped with thermal imaging technology were deployed to assist search efforts.
Why Are Police Investigating Other Possibilities?
As the search entered its third day, authorities said they were no longer relying solely on the assumption that Izzati remained within the hiking area.
Ibrahim said investigators had begun examining “external factors” while collecting information from the teenager’s friends, colleagues, relatives, schoolmates and workplace contacts.
“We will obtain details from her close friends, workplace, schoolmates and relatives to get a clearer picture of the situation.
“The search will proceed from two angles because we cannot rely on a single assumption. While the physical search at the location continues, an external investigation outside the area will also be conducted
“With current technology, we can only trace the phone's location based on telecommunication tower coverage when the device is active. However, the phone is currently turned off, making it untraceable,” he told reporters.
Authorities have not publicly indicated whether foul play is suspected.
Family Still Holding On To Hope
Izzati’s father, Azizul Abdul Aziz, said the family was trying to remain strong despite preparing themselves emotionally for all possibilities.
“Whether she is still alive or not, we are prepared for any possibility and only hope she can be found soon,” he said on May 25.
Azizul described his daughter as cheerful and active, saying she had recently obtained her driving licence and started working at a restaurant near Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Sungkai.
He said Izzati had only developed an interest in hiking over the past few years.
“I once climbed Mount Belumut, in Klang, with her before, but was unable to join the trip on Saturday,” he added.
Concerns Over Hiking Safety
The incident has renewed conversations online regarding hiking safety, especially when individuals become separated from their groups during difficult weather or physically demanding descents.
Bukit Changkat Asa, located near the Perak-Selangor border, is known among local hikers, but authorities have not yet confirmed whether terrain conditions contributed directly to the disappearance.
As of May 25, search and rescue operations were still ongoing, with teams expected to continue combing the area while investigations into all possible angles proceed simultaneously.