DARO (Sarawak): A man is feared drowned after his four-wheel drive crashed into an iron barrier at a bridge that was under construction in Batang Lassa.

       Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre said a team of five from the Daro Fire and Rescue station was rushed to the location after a report was received at about 4.45am yesterday.

       Upon arrival, however, the team discovered that the vehicle had already submerged some 800m from the bank.

       In an initial report, a witness said the silver-coloured vehicle was on the bridge when it suddenly disappeared from view.

       The witness found that the safety barrier at the end of the bridge had collapsed and the vehicle submerged by then.

       A search and rescue operation was initiated using three towboats belonging to the contractor of the bridge while the department’s Sungai Merah water rescue team in Sibu was put on standby to assist in the operation.

       In Johor Baru, a 12-year-old boy was found drowned in a monsoon drain in Jalan Padi Mahsuri, Bandar Baru Uda, on Thursday.

       North Johor Baru police chief Asst Comm Rupiah Abd Wahid said that the boy was playing with his friends before he dived in for a swim in the drain after the rain at 5.15pm.

       “His friends tried to talk him out of it but the boy went ahead without realising that the currents were strong,” she said in a statement.

       ACP Rupiah said the boy’s body was taken to Hospital Sultanah Aminah for a post-mortem before it was handed over to the family.

       The case has been classified as sudden death. — Bernama