Capsized boat: Only four remain missing

Belaga Police Chief, DSP Bakar Sebau confirmed that there are only four more victims of the boat tragedy in Rajang River, remain missing.

He said up until 7.30am this morning, seven victims who were reported missing have reported themselves at the Kapit police station and are safe with their families.

The search and rescue operation so far has recued 200 people.

Meanwhile, Belaga state assemblyman, Liwan Lagang said that the search and rescue mission on Thursday still failed to salvage the boat.

He said this is due to the strong current near the incident area.

However, he believed that the operation will return to normal once the strong current starts to subside Friday morning.

“We expect to begin the rescue mission tomorrow... we are confident that we will be able tow the boat to the river bank,” he said.

He stressed that if the situation remains the same, the rescue team will puncture the boat to enable them to conduct the search mission.

In the incident on May 28, the Kawan Mas express boat which carried more than 200 passengers was said to be travelling from Bakun to Kapit when it struck a rock and sunk in Jeram Tukok/Jeram Bungan between 8.30 am and 9 am.