KOTA KINABALU: Two men are feared injured or drowned after the engine of the pump boat they were in malfunctioned and exploded in Semporna district, Tuesday (Jan 11).

       State Fire and Rescue assistant director of operations Misran Bisara said they received a call about two missing persons from Pulau Tatagan at about 10.34am, Wednesday (Jan 12), and firemen were deployed to the scene immediately.

       “We are still trying to gather more information and to search for the missing men,” he said.

       He added witnesses who alerted the authorities on the missing men said the incident actually happened a day before, on Tuesday (Jan 11).

       Misran said the men were in a boat when an explosion erupted from it, believed to be from the engine.

       It is unclear what happened to the two people on board.

       An operation is now underway to search for the men, he said.

       Semporna OCPD Supt Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said he has just reached the scene and will issue a statement once he has more details.