SONG: Search and rescue (SAR) operations for a 56-year-old man feared drowned after reportedly falling from a boat while returning home with a cooking gas cylinder ended without success, with the search set to resume tomorrow (Sunday, July 5).
The victim, identified as Sumok Jugah, was believed to have fallen into Sungai Bangkit at about 6:00 pm on Friday (July 3) after buying the gas cylinder at a shop in Nanga Bangkit.
The incident came to light after residents of a nearby longhouse found the victim’s boat drifting upstream without anyone on board.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), firefighters from the Song station received a call from the Song Police Station at 9:40 am today.
After a briefing with police, the search team proceeded to Nanga Banjor, which served as the operations control post.
The SAR operations began at 1:45 pm using two longboats belonging to the police and the Civil Defence Force (APM).
Rescuers searched the upstream section of Sungai Bangkit where the victim was believed to have fallen.
The search team later reached the location where the victim’s boat had been found before continuing the search about 23 kilometres upstream.
However, the victim was not found.
The operations, involving three firefighters, seven police personnel, and five APM personnel, were suspended at 5:00 pm.
