KUCHING: Twenty passengers, including school students, found themselves in a harrowing situation when the tambang boat they were travelling in capsized near the Pangkalan Balang Jetty in Kampung Beradek this morning (October 13).
Fortunately, all passengers were unhurt during the incident that occurred at around 6 am.
Julia Bojeng, a 45-year-old eyewitness and jetty merchant, was alerted to the incident by a female passenger before she hurried to the jetty.
She described how, as the boat was nearing the jetty and carrying passengers from Kampung Beradek, Kampung Semilang, and Kampung Tiang Api, started to take on water.
“The passengers inside the boat managed to disembark, and they included 11 SMK Bako students and nine other passengers, along with six motorcycles. They were successfully brought out by another tambang boat that came to their rescue,” she said.
In relating the incident, Julia explained that the river’s water level was relatively low at the time, and luckily, the tambang boat was close to the jetty.
She pointed out that if the boat had been in the middle of the river, an undesirable situation could have unfolded.
“Thank goodness they are all safe; it’s quite distressing, especially with the school students on board,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kuching district police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah, confirmed receiving information about the tambang boat capsizing incident near Pengkalan Balang in Kampung Beradek, which happened at 6 am.
He stated that during the incident, a total of 20 passengers, including 11 school students and six motorcycles, were on board.
“The police confirm that all passengers are safe,” he said in a statement.
He urged the public not to engage in any speculation regarding the incident.
