KAMPAR, Nov 16- The incident of an overturned rafting boat in Sungai Jahang, Gopeng, killing three victims, occurred as a result of a water surge following the heavy rain.

When confirming the matter, acting Perak police chief DCP Zulkafli Sariaat said they received a call from the public at 5.50 pm yesterday.

"The result of the investigation found that the boat that the seven participants were on, overturned during the 'water rafting' activity, causing all the victims to drift away.

"Four participants were successfully rescued; however, three other participants - two men and one woman - failed to be rescued", he said in a statement.

The victims who drowned were identified as Suhaili Mat Saad, 47, from Nibong Tebal, Penang, Mohamad Khairul Hakim Hamidi, 37, from Kuah, Langkawi and Muhammad Ikram Abdul Bari, 29, from Jitra, Kedah.

They were among the 22 participants from the Public Works Department’s (JKR) Seberang Perai Tengah and Langkawi branches, who took part in a Team-Building programme.

The bodies of all the victims were sent to the Kampar Hospital Forensic Unit for a post-mortem examination.

The case is classified as sudden death (SD) and all water sports activities in the affected area have been suspended.