Daro, Jan 20 – A search team recovered four bodies from the Lassa River here today, raising to eight the number of people who drowned after a longboat capsized in the river near here last Saturday.
Sarawak police chief Datuk Wira Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the search was going on for three more missing people.
He said the bodies recovered today were those of a woman and three men, namely Kalsum bt Mat, 50, Naibi Saibi, 60, Bolhan Bordan, 65, and Riji Dalol, 60.
Twenty-seven people from Kampung Tekajong were returning to their village when the longboat they were travelling in capsized after it was hit by a huge wave at about 1 pm last Saturday.
Sixteen people swam to safety, three were found drowned and eight went missing.
Muhammad Sabtu said the area of the search was to be extended as two of the bodies were recovered far from the place where the boat capsized.
He said some villagers were also helping in the search in 17 boats while others were helping with the cooking of meals and tending to other logistical needs.
Muhammad Sabtu said the police had ruled out foul play in the tragedy, adding that it was an accident caused by rough river conditions and worsened by the presence of the seasonal king tide.
“The victims, especially the men, are seasoned sea farers. The high number of casualties is perhaps due to the number of elderly women. We hope no quarters will exploit the mishap,” he said.
He also said that the longboat skipper was related to most of the villagers he had been ferrying.
“The villagers are not angry with him as the families of those who perished and the others consider this as a pure accident,” he said.
Muhammad Sabtu said he would leave it to the villagers concerned to determine how to bring back the bodies to Kampung Tekajong, whether by boat or road.
He advised the people, including civil servants, travelling by river to always use life jackets for their own safety.
“I would particularly like all those returning home by river for the coming Chinese New Year (Jan 31 and Feb 1) celebration to heed this advice,” he said.
– Bernama
