SIBU: An express boat bound for Kapit with 12 passengers ran aground yesterday at 7.45am near Lanang Bridge.
A spokesman from Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) when contacted said they are still determining whether the incident, which took place near Kanowit town along the Rajang River, was due to poor visibility caused by the haze or carelessness.
“We have asked our officers to record the statement of the skipper of the boat. Until then, we cannot determine yet what happened,” he said.
The boat left Sibu at 6.15am when the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading was 204, with visibility put at approximately 2km.
Five minutes after leaving the terminal, the boat rammed into the river bank near Lanang Bridge and was aground for an hour.
However, it continued its journey after another express boat helped to free it.
It arrived at Kapit at 10.40am instead of the estimated time of 9.30am. None of the passengers were injured.
According to the spokesman, STB had issued a notice to all boats and vessels travelling along the river to exercise extra precaution.
