MARUDI: A nine-year-old girl who went missing with her father after their vehicle was swept away by strong river currents in Sungai Sengayan, near Long Jekitan, has been found dead by local villagers.
The tragic discovery was confirmed today (April 14), although the exact location where her body was found has not yet been disclosed.
Efforts to locate her father are still ongoing.
The victims have been identified as Dawellies Luing, 46, a Student Management Assistant at SK Long Jekitan, and his daughter, Vallerie Mentie Dawellies. They were believed to have been swept away by strong currents while attempting to cross Sungai Sengayan in a single-cab four-wheel-drive vehicle at around 8 am this morning (Apr 14).
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the Marudi Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call about the incident at midday from the Marudi District Police Headquarters.
Due to the remoteness of the area, a rescue team from Marudi is scheduled to depart at 6 am tomorrow (April 15) to assist in the ongoing search for the missing father.
The journey to the site — accessible only via four-wheel-drive vehicles navigating logging tracks and river routes — is expected to take between 10 and 12 hours.
Further updates are expected as the search operation continues.
