BATU PAHAT: An elderly woman who has been missing since Saturday night (Sept 25) was found dead in a 1.5m deep ditch here.

       Batu Pahat Fire and Rescue station chief Firdaus Ahmad said the body of the 73-year-old woman, who is also a Covid-19 person under surveillance, was found at 11.54am on Sunday (Sept 26) at Jalan Parit Jalil, Tongkang Pechah.

       "Ten firemen were deployed to the scene after receiving a call about the discovery of the body.

       "According to the family, the victim has been missing since Saturday night. The police also contacted the Fire and Rescue Department to help in the search for the missing person.

       "Efforts to look for the victim were also assisted by the public who later spotted the body in a ditch," he said in a statement here.

       He said that firemen took about five minutes to retrieve the body from the ditch.

       "They were also in full personal protective equipment as the victim is a person under surveillance.

       "The body was handed over to the police for further action," he said.