Berapit hill: A family of four went through anxious moments after being lost for more than three hours while hiking at Berapit Hill Trail, here before being rescued by the Fire Department last night.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Assistant Director of Firefighting and Rescue Operations John Sagun Francis said they received an emergency call at 8.08 pm informing that a husband and wife along with their two children were lost in the forest area.

'They were reported to have gone missing while hiking in the area and it was understood that the family had started their hike at 6 pm before failing to find their way back down the hill and subsequently contacted the authorities.

'All of them were found safe at 10.09 pm by firemen who carried out the search and rescue operation before being escorted down to the foot of the hill,' he said in a statement last night.

He said the operation was carried out by a team from the Bukit Mertajam Fire and Rescue Station, assisted by the Bukit Mertajam Volunteer Fire Brigade, and was fully completed at 10.58 pm.