SEARCH teams have recovered two bodies of victims from a capsized riverboat along Sg Baleh in the deep interior of Kapit district in central Sarawak.
The two deceased have been identified as Sgt Jonathan Lambert, 51, and timber camp boat operator Jack Balan, 45, said the Kapit district police in its latest update today.
The two were among five people in the boat mishap incident that happened at about 6pm on Thursday along the river near SK Lepong Baleh.
Villagers who witnessed the incident along the river banks said the boat overturned after being hit by strong currents and whirlpools while it was crossing the river.
Camp worker Moses Ngui was rescued by riverine villagers but the four others were swept away by the strong current.
The two others who are still missing are Constable Iskandar Ibrahim and timber worker Amerson John.
Lambert and Iskandar, both policemen, were escorting the group into a timber camp from Kapit town.
The camp workers were carrying explosives to the camp for blasting purposes at a road construction site when the tragedy happened.
The Kapit Fire and Rescue Department, police and the Sarawak Rivers Board are still searching for the two others with the help of camp workers and villagers. – The Vibes, March 10, 2024
