Saturday, March 12, 2016

6 dies in Tuaran boat tragedy

Another victim of the Sungai Serusup boat tragedy was found, bringing the total number of people who drowned in the incident last night to six. Acting Tuaran district police chief ASP Raji Hussin Suhodin said the body of Wong Vun Chong, in his 40s, was found near the location of the incident at about 8.30am today. The victims were among the passengers in two boats which collided and capsized in Sungai Serusup, near Panimbawan, at 10.30pm yesterday. Twenty-four of the passengers managed to swim to safety or were rescued. Raji said initial investigation revealed that the two boats did not have adequate safety features and the passengers were not provided with life jackets. One of the boats, with about 20 passengers, was on its way from Serusup to Kampung Panimbawan to attend a wedding ceremony when it collided with another boat on its way to Serusup, he added. Raji said the search and rescue operation would continue as the number of passengers in the boats could not be ascertained. The operation involves 60 personnel from the Civil Defence Department, police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. – Bernama, March 13, 2016.]]>

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