Another tragedy in the Rajang
Strong waves, strong current cause boat carrying 9 people to capsize, 1 dead, 3 missing
BELAGA: A longboat ferrying nine passengers capsized in Batang Rajang near Rumah Long Buyun in Belaga around 7 on Tuesday evening, resulting in four people reported missing while five others managed to swim to the shore.
It is believed that the boat sank after it was hit by strong waves.
Search and rescue (SAR) personnel recovered the body of 31-year-old Sahirza Mahir from Kampong Masapol Sipitang Sabah around 11am yesterday.
She was among the four female passengers including a four-year-old girl who went missing after the longboat capsized.
The body has been taken to Belaga polyclinic by police personnel.
The search continues for the other three missing passengers identified as Sumitasen Thomas, 15, Adriana Rosnah, 12, and Nur Amirsha, 4.
It is believed that they were on their way to Rumah Tanjong, Long Pawah in Belaga for vacation.
According to Edwin Minggu, 30, from Rh Tanjong Long Pawah, around 11am he and other villagers who joined the SAR operation spotted a body floating about 100 metres from the scene.
The five persons who survived the boat mishap were identified as Liam Kelilit (skipper), 50; Bungan Nyaleng, 50; Agnes Liam, 33; Olivia Ploma Thomas, 8 and Ayu, 4.
‘Incident occurred not far from where an express boat capsized last year’
Agnes Liam lodged a police report about the incident at 3.49am yesterday, after which three police personnel led by Sub-Inspector Yusup Naraue rushed to the scene in a police boat.
A police source said the incident occurred not far from where an express boat capsized last year.
A distress call from Belaga police station was received by Bintulu Fire and Rescue Station (Bomba) at 8.27am yesterday.
Bintulu Bomba station chief Di Hata Gobel said, with assistance from the local villagers and Belaga volunteer firefighters, the SAR operation was immediately launched.
He said more volunteer firefighters from Belaga would be mobilised to assist in the SAR operation which was also joined by Civil Defence Department personnel.
The scene is located about one hour’s drive from Bintulu and another one hour by boat depending on river conditions.
As at press time, the SAR operation has been called off and will resume today (Dec 24) for safety reasons.
The body of a woman recovered by the SAR personnel being pulled to the shore.
BELAGA: A longboat ferrying nine passengers capsized in Batang Rajang near Rumah Long Buyun in Belaga around 7 on Tuesday evening, resulting in four people reported missing while five others managed to swim to the shore.
It is believed that the boat sank after it was hit by strong waves.
Search and rescue (SAR) personnel recovered the body of 31-year-old Sahirza Mahir from Kampong Masapol Sipitang Sabah around 11am yesterday.
She was among the four female passengers including a four-year-old girl who went missing after the longboat capsized.
The body has been taken to Belaga polyclinic by police personnel.
The search continues for the other three missing passengers identified as Sumitasen Thomas, 15, Adriana Rosnah, 12, and Nur Amirsha, 4.
It is believed that they were on their way to Rumah Tanjong, Long Pawah in Belaga for vacation.
According to Edwin Minggu, 30, from Rh Tanjong Long Pawah, around 11am he and other villagers who joined the SAR operation spotted a body floating about 100 metres from the scene.
The five persons who survived the boat mishap were identified as Liam Kelilit (skipper), 50; Bungan Nyaleng, 50; Agnes Liam, 33; Olivia Ploma Thomas, 8 and Ayu, 4.
The boat used by the victims which was recovered by the SAR team.
Agnes Liam lodged a police report about the incident at 3.49am yesterday, after which three police personnel led by Sub-Inspector Yusup Naraue rushed to the scene in a police boat.
A police source said the incident occurred not far from where an express boat capsized last year.
A distress call from Belaga police station was received by Bintulu Fire and Rescue Station (Bomba) at 8.27am yesterday.
Bintulu Bomba station chief Di Hata Gobel said, with assistance from the local villagers and Belaga volunteer firefighters, the SAR operation was immediately launched.
He said more volunteer firefighters from Belaga would be mobilised to assist in the SAR operation which was also joined by Civil Defence Department personnel.
The scene is located about one hour’s drive from Bintulu and another one hour by boat depending on river conditions.
As at press time, the SAR operation has been called off and will resume today (Dec 24) for safety reasons.
The location where the boat capsized.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/12/24/another-tragedy-in-the-rajang/#ixzz3vJs5pIcM
My comments:
With the construction of Bakun hydroelectric dam, the Rejang river is no longer safe for boats like the one shown in the picture. How can our government allow such boat structure without any safety measures to ply the river? I wonder if there is any law regulating the boat standard.
To be frank, I won't dare to take the kind of boat to travel on the Rejang river. It is just like dicing with death. But the rural people have no choice and so ....
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