KABONG: A man has gone missing after the boat he was travelling with 10 other passengers sank near the river mouth at Kampung Paloh at around 12.00noon yesterday.
According to the one of the surviving victims, Hermantino who is also a firefighter from the Bintulu fire station, at the time of the incident it was raining heavily coupled with strong winds.
He said the boat, which was laden with boxes of drinking water with eleven people on board including the missing victim, Abang Madehan Abang Awi, 43, sank after it was hit by strong waves upon reaching the mouth of the river.
“We were on our way to the village from Kabong town to distribute the drinking water, donated by the Social Welfare Department, to the villagers who have been affected by drought since last month,” he said.
Hermantino said the victim was last seen grabbing hold of a barrel before being swept away by a strong current.
Earlier four firefighters from Saratok fire station led by PBKI Kho Boo Jang were deployed to the scene to look for Abang Madehan after being notified of the incident.
The search for the victim, who is also Kampung Paloh Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) chairman, continues.
