BAU: Rescuers will continue the search and rescue (SAR) operation to extricate the body of a man trapped in a cave at Mount Tabai here following requests from the victim’s family.
Bau district police chief Poge Nyaon said the victim’s family had requested for the body to be retrieved so that a proper funeral could be done.
“We will continue the efforts to retrieve the body.
“However, if the efforts come to no avail, we will have to convince the family to end the operation,” he said when met at the scene today (March 25).
The second day of the SAR operation today (March 25) began around 10.40am with a total of 18 men entering the hole of the cave about 80m deep.
At 12.30pm, Bau district bomba chief Tawang Lingem informed that three family members of the victim, who were part of the SAR team, were able to get into the hole where the body was.
“The victim’s body is crushed by a big boulder, posing a challenge for us to extricate the body.
“However, we will continue to attempt to extricate the body by ‘shoring’ method,” he said.
As of 6pm today, the SAR team reported that half of the victim’s body was still trapped under the rubble.
Shortly after, State Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman directed that the search operation to continue until the victim is successfully retrieved.
The SAR team comprised 15 firemen,several villagers and assisted by the police and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) personnel.
The victim identified as Martin Mat Tapa, 25, was reported to have entered the hole with two of his relatives with the intention to dig for gold last Tuesday.
During the hunt, a big boulder suddenly collapsed and crushed Martin while the two others escaped and informed the victim’s family around 5am on Wednesday.
A SAR operation was activated around 11am after police received a report on the incident at the restricted area.
