First body found in Belaga boat tragedy

Authorities this morning found a body, believed to be one of four missing victims following a boat sinking tragedy in Long Buyun, Belaga in Sarawak.

The body was found by Belaga Fire and Rescue volunteers around 10am.

However, authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the body.

Search and rescue (SAR) efforts were still ongoing to find the other missing persons, including a four-year-old.

The victim who were reported missing are all females – Sumitasen Thomas, 15; Adriana Rosnah, 12; Sahirza Mahir, 31, and four-year-old Nur Amrisha.

Meanwhile, Belaga police chief, DSP Melay Tingom confirmed that other boat passengers – Liam Kelilit, 50; Bungan Nyaleng, 50; Agnes Liam, 33; Olivia Ploma Thomas, 8, and Ayu, four, have all survived.

According to a police source, the victims were on their way back from vacationing in Belaga town to Rumah Tanjung in Long Pawah when the mishap occurred around 7pm yesterday.

As for the location, the incident reportedly happened where an express boat, filled with passengers wanting to head home for the Hari Gawai festival, had sank near the Jeram Tukok/Jeram Bungan area, some 40 minutes from here, on May 28, 2013.

In the incident two years ago, the ‘Kawan Mas’ express boat, which was on its way from Belaga to Kapit and Sibut, had collided with some logs at Giam Bungan, Sungai Rajang, about an hour’s journey from Belaga town and suffer engine problems before it sank around 8.45am.

Melay said the SAR, led by sub inspector Yusup Naraue, was being carried out with the help of nearby villagers.

The police have also requested aid from the Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department and Bintulu Civil Defence Department.