Communication via WhatsApp led to the rescue of three people who got lost while climbing Bukit Tabur, Taman Melawati, Saturday afternoon.

Ampang Fire and Rescue acting supervisor, Mohd Azmi Abdul Latif said the victims were rescued at Kemensah, Hulu Kelang at 3.20pm.

"Since the climbers were not hurt, we gave instructions so that they could find their way out using a location map sent via WhatsApp.

"They had strayed five kilometres off course while descending the hill. We received a distress call from one of them at 1.55pm and arrived at Kemensah at 2.40pm," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Azmi said the victims began to climb at Kemensah at 8am and it was their first effort to climb Bukit Tabur.

"They followed a group of climbers to the top of the hill but three of them descended on their own and got lost in the process," he added.

The victims comprising two men and a woman, all aged 22, looked exhausted when found by the firemen.