KOTA KINABALU: The seven children, including four siblings, who got lost in a forest in Kota Belud for 16 hours while walking to a road construction site last week, have been found huddled together and safe.
However, they were in a weak state when found by search and rescue teams in the forest of Kampung Kubang at 7.30am yesterday.
The group of five children and two teenagers, aged between three and 15, were reported missing since 3.30pm on Sunday. Three of them are disabled.
Kampung Kebayu Village Development and Security Committee chairman Lery Joba Midih said they were weak as they had not eaten anything since Sunday afternoon.
“They said that they had wanted to go see a road construction area near Kampung Kubang here but got lost in the forest,” he said.
Lery said when the children tried to go home, it was already dark and they spent the night in the forest.
“They stayed together, cuddling each other,” he added.
It is understood that four of the children are siblings – Freddy Kerinsuk, 15; Arni Kerinsuk, 13; Alistar Kerinsuk, nine; and Royce Kerinsuk, three.
The other three are Mecklorn Datine, 12; Elson Evan Lie Willie, 11; and Elcy Jackter, five.
A Sabah Fire and Rescue Depart-ment spokesman said it began its second day of search operation at 7.16am yesterday.
“All the victims were immediately brought back to Kampung Keba-yau after they were found in the forested area.
“They were then handed over to paramedics and rushed to Hospital Kota Belud for examination and treatment,” he said, adding that the rescue operation ended at 9.30am.
