SAMALAJU, Oct 3: Eight people were terrified when the bus they were travelling in was swept onto its side by strong currents last night.
The driver and passengers comprising seven males and one female aged between 31 and 64 from Samalaju Industrial Park were left stranded on the shoulder of the road near the Bintulu-Samalaju roundabout along the Bintulu-Miri coastal road.
Bintulu fire zone chief PgKB II Wan Kamarudin Wan Ahmad disclosed that a team of firefighters from Samalaju station immediately rushed to the location as soon as they received the emergency call at 8.09pm.
“Upon arrival, we found a bus stuck between two to three metres deep in flood water on the shoulder of the road after it was swept away due to the flash flood. All the victims were trapped and unable to save themselves. They were found sitting on the side of the bus.
“Using ropes as lifeline tied to a lifebuoy and life jackets, firefighters successfully rescued the victims by pulling them one by one to a safer place,” Wan Kamarudin said in a statement. — DayakDaily
