SERIAN: The Serian Rafting Challenge 2026 may be postponed if severe haze or shallow river conditions make it unsafe to proceed.
Serian District Council Chairman, Datuk Peter Minos, said organisers would monitor both conditions ahead of the event on September 25 and 26.
“If the haze is very bad, we may have to postpone it, but everyone will be informed in good time,” he said during a press conference at Dewan Masyarakat Serian here today.
He said dry conditions associated with El Niño could also leave the river too shallow for teams to navigate safely.
“If the heat from El Niño continues until September 25 and the river becomes too shallow, we will have to postpone it,” he said.
The council recently postponed the Bung Sadong Climbathon after receiving advice from medical and other relevant agencies that conditions were unsafe due to the haze.
Race director, Awang Saifeluddin Awangku Karim, said safety preparations also took into account weak mobile coverage along sections of the 25km route.
“At every village the teams pass, SARES personnel will record theira numbers and relay the information to the finishing point, so we will know the area they are in,” he said.
This would allow organisers to determine the last known location of any team that fails to reach the next checkpoint.
The Fire and Rescue Department will also deploy a boat behind the participating teams to ensure no raft is left without assistance.
Local safety boats will be stationed along the route to assist or tow teams when necessary.
Radio repeaters will also be installed at selected locations to maintain communication in areas without reliable mobile coverage.
