SARIKEI: An early-morning trip to the oil palm plantation turned into a desperate search for a 78-year-old man after he failed to return home yesterday.
The victim, identified as Chali Mat, left home at 8.15 am, heading to his farm along Jalan Sungai Tapang, Jalan Bayong.
He was wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt and long pants and carrying a machete when he left.
When Chali did not return, his family mounted a search for him but could not locate him before making a police report.
The search intensified today after firefighters from Sarikei station launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation after receiving a distress call at 10.46 am.
Six firefighters, along with three police personnel and 15 villagers, are now scouring the area in three search teams.
The search covers the oil palm plantation and surrounding forest within a radius of about 2km to 4km from the SAR command post.
However, the operation has been made more difficult by the absence of internet and mobile phone coverage in the area, hampering communication between the search teams.
At the time of writing, Chali had yet to be found.
