KUCHING: A regatta training session took a tragic turn today after five participants went missing and are feared to have drowned when the boat they were on capsized near Royal Bay Commercial Centre, Jalan Buruh Bintawa here.
A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations centre spokesman said that they received a distress call about the incident at 4.20 pm and dispatched a team to conduct a search and rescue operation.
"The incident involved 15 participants in a boat for regatta training. Ten participants managed to save themselves, with another five still missing.
"The Fire and Rescue Department and the marine police, including the Sarawak Coast Guard, are still looking for the five missing participants. The Fire Department is conducting surface searching,” they said in a statement here on Friday (Oct 18).
The annual Sarawak Regatta is a popular event featuring a series of boat races with Malaysian and international participants, slated to be held Nov 1 to 3 this year.
The five missing participants are Mohamad Ikhmal Sama'ail, Majurie Maharuf, Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, Mohamad Khairul Bidin and Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Kasturi, aged 22 to 35. - Bernama
