By DayakDaily Team
BELAGA, June 19: The body of Rhuban Apparoo, 30, the final victim of a tragic incident where a boat sank along the river near Rh Apan Long Menjawah, was found floating 18 kilometres from the mishap location this morning.
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Belaga reported that the victim was discovered by members of the public downstream of Rh Kejaman Neh Long Liten at 8.22am.
A team of firefighters headed by PBK II Joel Godes moved to the location using a police boat after receiving the alert.
They retrieved and transported the victim’s body to Belaga Wharf, where it was handed over to the police for further action.
The body of the first victim, Balavishnu Permaloo, 36, was found at 1.15pm about 50 metres from the mishap location, on the second day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation yesterday (June 18).
Both victims hailed from Padang Serai, Kedah.
With the two missing victims found, the SAR operation concluded. The operation, which entered the third day today, involved the Bomba, police, Civil Defence Force (APM), People’s Voluntary Corps (Rela), Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) and villagers.
Firefighters also conducted flushing to clean Belaga Wharf before wrapping up their operation.
On Sunday (June 16) at 4pm, the boat ferrying five people, comprising four co-workers from a private company and a boat operator, sank due to the strong current in the Menjawah River.
Three individuals, including the boat operator, were rescued, while two passengers were swept away by the strong current despite attempts by the boat operator to save them.
The four co-workers were believed to have rented the boat to go sightseeing near Jeram Menjawah Belaga, accompanied by the driver, who is a resident of Rh Apan. — DayakDaily
