By Nancy Nais
BETONG, Jan 29: A 16-year-old teenager went missing after a boat carrying 18 paddlers capsized near the Fisheries Development Authority Malaysia (LKIM) base in Hulu Beladin today.
The group was practicing for an upcoming boat race when they approached LKIM base at about 6pm.
They somehow lost control of the boat before it capsized with a barge.
The missing paddler has been identified as Muhammad Izzat Farhan Ismail from Kampung Tengah Darat Beladin.
Fire and Rescue department (Bomba) received the distress call at 7.17pm.
Firefighters led by PBK I Henry Jugah from Betong station were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Although 17 victims managed to swim to safety, three of them, identified as Hazwan Aryadi Bin Jamel, 14, Ashfizan Sahari, 31, and Muhammad Alfin Lengah, 19, were injured.
The trio were sent to Sarikei hospital for medical treatment.
Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for Muhammad Izzat will resume tomorrow. DayakDaily
