KUCHING: A search and rescue operation has been mounted for three secondary school students, including two girls, who went missing when the boat they were in sank near here.
The students were on their way to SMK Senibong when the incident in Sungai Kayan at Kampung Selampit, Lundu, occurred at about 6.10am yesterday.
The missing trio have been identified as Alsma Jithil, 14, Helena Fasha Petrus, 17, and 15-year-old Vilkie Wilson.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said 20 people were in the boat when it sank.
Operations division assistant director Henderi Ardimansyah said 16 of them were rescued by villagers while another victim was found safe.
Racing against time: Bomba personnel searching for the missing students at Sungai Kayan in Lundu.
“Three more victims are still missing and we are conducting a search and rescue operation,” he was reported as saying by RTM.
Henderi said the search initially focused on a 3km radius from where the incident occurred, adding that the department had deployed its K9 and water rescue unit to assist in the operation.
Meanwhile, one of the survivors said she clung to a wooden plank with three other students until they were rescued by villagers.
Alfiyana Recha said the boat sank when it was in the middle of the river after water started entering from the front.
“Everyone tried to save themselves. I felt myself being pulled into the river. Then I came across a plank from the boat and four of us held on to it until the villagers saw us and rescued us,” the 13-year-old told reporters.
Alfiyana added that Alsma, one of the missing students, is her cousin.
“I called out to her, don’t go too far away, but we were being pulled by the currents,” she said.
