SIBU: Four people are feared drowned after the boat they were on capsized and sank in a river near SK Lepong Balleh in Batang Balleh, Kapit, on Thursday (March 7).

       Kapit Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Chief, Assistant Fire Chief (PPgB) Timoty Barat said his station received an emergency call at 5.24pm and immediately sent 10 firefighters to the scene.

       "We were informed about an incident involving a 30-horsepower fibre boat carrying five people from Melekun Camp to Nanga Tuli.

       "One of the victims, Moses Ngui, aged 47, was successfully rescued by a member of the public who happened to be nearby at the scene while the strong current swept away four others," he said when contacted.

       He said that upon arrival at the location, the firefighters started a search operation using the 'water surface searching' method around 1km from the incident location.

       "However, the operation had to be postponed at 6.50pm due to the strong current and because it was getting dark," he said

       The search and rescue operations will resume on Friday (March 8) morning.

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