By DayakDaily Team
BINTULU, May 3: A search operation has been launched for a 48-year-old man feared to have drowned after being swept downstream by strong currents during heavy rainfall in the Sibiew River near Kemunting today.
The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Bintulu responded to the emergency at 2.41pm and quickly deployed a team of firefighters to the scene.
Reports indicate that the man, who lives at a squatter area near to the Sibiew riverbank, had set out for work on Friday (May 2) around 5am, using a homemade boat to cross the Sibiew River.
However, the victim did not return home. According to witness accounts and the police report, he was last seen being swept downstream by the strong currents during the heavy rainfall.
Initial search efforts were carried out by family members and members of the public, resulting in the discovery of the victim’s paddle near the Jepak Bridge in Bintulu. — DayakDaily
