TWO people, including a 12-year-old girl, drowned in separate incidents near rural longhouses in central Sarawak on the fourth day of Gawai Dayak celebrations.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department confirmed the fatalities occurred in the districts of Song and Tatau, both home to traditional longhouse communities.
Meanwhile, in the Tatau district, a 24-year-old man, Alexsen Gindi, was reported to have fallen into the river near Rumah Enjan longhouse at approximately 12 noon. His body was later recovered.
Meanwhile, in Song, a 12-year-old girl, Nazatul Akmal, drowned while playing with friends along the riverbank near Rumah Robert Nanga. Her body was found at about 11.30am.
“Search and rescue operations were launched following alerts received from the two longhouses,” said the department in a statement.
The bodies have since been handed over to the police for further investigation.
Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival celebrated by the Dayak community in Sarawak, often sees large gatherings in longhouses across the region, especially in rural areas. - June 4, 2025
