TANJUNG MANIS: Eight crew members of a vessel ‘Bahagia Maju’ survived a shipwreck of about eight nautical miles from Kuala Sungai Rajang, early yesterday morning.
Sarawak Maritime director First Admiral Robert Teh Geok Chuan said the Kuching Maritime Rescue Coordination Subcentre (MRSC) received a distress call from the crew at 6.30am yesterday that their vessel was sinking at the location of eight nautical miles from Kuala Sungai Rajang.
He said eight victims comprising two local residents, one Indonesian citizen, a Myanmar citizen and four Indian nationals escaped using a safety raft.
They were identified as Zaw Min Tun (Myanmarese), Vikram Chand (Indian), Ting Tiew Hing (Malaysian), Rambau Landa (Indian), Tokito Khuwoto Chishi (Indian), Suprayoga (Indonesian) and Atchuta Rao Chepra Soon (Malaysian).
“The search and rescue operation (SAR) was activated at 7am and a vessel, ‘KM Semilang’ has been despatched to the scene.
“The search field area is about five nautical miles north of Kuala Rajang River,” he said.
Meanwhile, a team of five Fire and Rescue personnel mobilised in operation was forced to turn back when their boat could not sail through waves of 1.5 to 2.5 metres high following strong northeast winds blowing at 30-40 kmph.
Also involved in the operation were the Health Department, police, Sarawak Rivers Board as well as fishermen of Tanjong Manis and Kuala Rajang who were informed of the incident using communication radio. – Bernama
