Malaysian rescuers find body of Dutch hiker in popular cave

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysian rescuers on Saturday found the body of a Dutch hiker, a day after he was reported missing during flash floods in a popular national park.

District fire and rescue chief Law Poh Kiong said the body of Peter Hans Hoverkamp, 66, was discovered at a river in Deer Cave in northern Sarawak state’s Mulu National Park.

Hoverkamp initially was said to be from Germany, but fire department officials clarified later that he was from the Netherlands.

Law said the rescue team was still searching for local tour guide Roviezal Robin, who was washed away on Friday along with Hoverkamp.

Officials said a heavy downpour forced rescuers to halt their search operation Saturday afternoon.

Deer Cave is one of the largest cave passages in the world and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. It is one of several limestone caves in Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.