By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 14: The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak K9 unit has deployed trained cadaver dog Bella in the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) operation for the final victim of the Kapit boat tragedy at Batang Baleh today.
The search for 28-year-old Constable (PC) Iskandar Ibrahim, who remains missing, has entered its eighth day.
Operation commander PPgB Timothy Barat from the Bomba Kapit station reported that the search resumed at 9.20am following a briefing involving various agencies, including the police K9 and Drone Units, Civil Defence Force (APM), Sibu Marine Police, Sarawak Rivers Board, and Resident’s Office.
The search area spans from the location where the victim was last seen at SK Lepong Balleh up to Kapit River near Kampung Baru and the Kapit market. It covers both sides of the river, extending upstream and downstream, within a radius of 10 kilometres.
Additionally, the Bomba Zone 4 diving team remains on standby to offer assistance as required.
The tragic incident occurred on March 7 around 5pm when five passengers, including two police officers, were en route to Nanga Tulie Camp from Kuching on a 30-horsepower (HP) fibre boat carrying 35kg of explosives and detonators.
The boat veered slightly upstream upon reaching the area and encountered swirling waters, resulting in its capsizing.
While one passenger, identified as 47-year-old Moses Ngui, was rescued by members of the public, the remaining four individuals went missing.
The missing persons were Iskandar, 51-year-old Sergeant Jonathan Lambet, 44-year-old boat operator Jack Balan, and 47-year-old Amerson John Nain.
Subsequently, on March 9, Jack’s body was found by members of the public in Batang Rajang near Lanang Bridge, while authorities recovered Jonathan’s body in front of the Kapit express boat terminal. Amerson’s body was later discovered floating in Batang Lebaan. — DayakDaily
