KOTA KINABALU – In their rush to secure supplies for today’s lockdown, several folk from Mantanani Island lost their goods after the boat they were on capsized on the way home.
The incident yesterday saw members from seven families go out to get supplies from the mainland in view of the impending lockdown.
According to Reef Check Malaysia, the boat they were on capsized at the river mouth on their way home due to bad weather.
“Seven families lost more than RM1,000 each in groceries, intended to see them through the next few weeks. Luckily, everyone survived. Their average monthly income is about RM500,” the non-profit organisation said on Facebook.
The organisation said Sabah is currently experiencing the monsoon season and “not the time of year to be travelling on the open ocean in a small boat”.
The organisation also posted a two-minute video on its Facebook page.
In the video, the victims can be seen clinging to plastic canisters and items that could keep them afloat while they wait to be rescued.
It could not be ascertained how many people were affected but the video showed three men on a boat were there to save the victims.
The two-minute video showed the three men first rescued two women first and headed to an island.
Based on their conversations, the rescuers said they would return for the other victims.
Reef Check said there was no casualties in the incident.
Efforts to get more details from the Kota Belud authorities have yielded no results, and it is learnt that no report was lodged over the incident. – The Vibes, June 1, 2021
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