Belaga search and rescue op halted

The search and rescue of a victim, feared trapped in an express boat which sank at Giam Bungan, Belaga on May 28, and efforts to float the vessel was halted today - 24 days after the tragedy.

Making the announcement here, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said the decision to halt was based on the highly dangerous river conditions which posed a grave risk to the search and rescue team.

"The unanimous decision was arrived at during a special meeting held at the State Operations Room yesterday evening," Jabu, who is also State Disaster Aid Management Committee chairman, said after visiting yesterday's fire victims at Kampung Datu here today.

The express boat 'Kawan Mas' which was heading to Kapit and Sibu from Belaga was carrying more than 200 people, far exceeding its capacity of only 64 passengers.

A total of 213 victims managed to save themselves after the boat hit a log in Sungai Rajang which damaged its engine. It capsized at 8.45 am, about an hour from Belaga Town.

Two passengers are still missing, another was found dead two days after the mishap while another body was found last Sunday.