MIRI: Search efforts are continuing today for a 44-year-old man who went missing while foraging for wild vegetables and bamboo shoots in a forested area near Miri’s new bus terminal station.
Udil Lutan was last heard from around 8:30 pm on Friday (August 1), when he contacted a relative asking for help to leave the jungle.
He reportedly complained of a severe headache and was unable to find his way out.
Concerned family members lodged a report the following afternoon.
Fire and Rescue personnel from the Lopeng station were deployed to the scene at approximately 2:00 pm on Saturday (Aug 2), joining police officers and relatives in a coordinated search effort.
According to the Lopeng Fire and Rescue Department, initial search operations covered a two-kilometre radius from the area where Udil was believed to have entered.
At around 3:30 pm, searchers discovered a gunny sack containing jungle produce thought to belong to him, located about 500 metres from the fire service’s control post.
The search team – comprising firefighters, six police officers, and eight family members – regrouped at the control post at 4:30 pm.
Shortly after, a K9 unit from the Police re-entered the forest to assist in tracking the missing man.
Operations were called off at 6:30 pm due to fading light and safety concerns, with plans to resume the search at first light on Sunday.
The operation is being coordinated by the Lopeng Fire and Rescue team under ‘Charlie Unit’, in collaboration with the Police and the victim’s family.
