by Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Sept 9: A foreign senior citizen has been reported missing at the Bako National Park.
Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operations centre (PGO) said they received an emergency call from a park ranger at 6.3pm today, informing them that a hiker, identified as Shin, 70, from Taiwan, failed to return to base after jungle tracking with his friends.
Shin, together with two friends, had registered themselves to take the hiking trail to Telok Asam.
He was believed to be separated from the group at 2pm.
When his friends safely arrived at the base point, they immediately reported the case to the park ranger.
A search and rescue (SAR) was conducted by the park rangers but they failed to find Shin, prompting them to call the authorities for help.
Bomba acting director Tiong Ling Hii said a SAR operation involving five firefighters from Tabuan Jaya fire station, four volunteer firefighters from Bako Indah team, four park rangers and 15 personnel from Boat Club was despatched to search for Shin.
As at press time, they have yet to find the victim.
Bako is Sarawak’s oldest national park, covering an area of 2,742 hectares, offering an extensive 16 jungle trails of various level of difficulties and distances to hikers. — DayakDaily
