Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Tragic Boat Accident Claims Three Lives in Sungai Batang Baleh, Kapit Division
SIBU: The search operation for four missing victims of the tragic longboat accident that occurred in Sungai Batang Baleh in Kapit division on Thursday has yielded heartbreaking results. Today, three bodies were discovered, two of which were found over 100 kilometres away from the site of the boat capsizing.
Identification of Victims
The Kapit Fire and Rescue Station chief, Timothy Barat, confirmed the identities of two of the victims. The first body found was that of Sgt Jonathan Lambert, 51, whose lifeless form was spotted floating near the Kapit express boat terminal at 4.02 pm. His pistol was found with him, and his body was handed over to the police for further investigation. The second victim identified was Jack Balan, 45, whose body was located by the public in the waters of Pulau Kerto, Sibu, a distance of over 100 km from the accident site.
Discovery of the Third Body
The search operation took a somber turn when the third body was found by members of the public in the waters near Bintangor at around 11 am. Unfortunately, the body drifted away and was later recovered in Batang Lebaan, nearly 200 km from the initial incident location, by a marine police team at approximately 5 pm. Despite the valiant efforts of the search teams, one victim remains unaccounted for as operations were temporarily halted at 6.30 pm.
Details of the Incident
The ill-fated longboat was carrying five individuals when it capsized on Thursday afternoon. Among the passengers were two police personnel from the Kapit district police headquarters, Sgt Jonathan Lambet and Constable Iskandar Ibrahim, along with civilians Amerson John Nain, 47, Jack Balan, 45, and Moses Ngui, 47. Miraculously, Moses Ngui was rescued by members of the public at the time of the boat overturning, but the rest of the passengers were tragically swept away by the treacherous waters of Sungai Batang Baleh.
As the community mourns the loss of these three individuals, the search operation continues in earnest to locate the remaining missing victim. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by this devastating incident.
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