KUCHING: The wake of a fishing boat caused a regatta boat to capsize in Sungai Sarawak here, say police.
Kuching district police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said that the wake caused the regatta boat, carrying 16 participants from the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS), to take on water.
"The water that entered the boat caused it to capsize and all 16 participants on board tried to escape.
"A total of 11 male participants managed to save themselves, but five others are still missing," he told reporters at the search and rescue operation centre at Royal Bay Commercial Centre here on Friday (Oct 18).
The search effort began at 4.37pm and ended at around 7.30pm involving 12 agencies with eight assets and two ambulances, ACP Mohd Farhan said.
He added that the search will resume at 6am on Saturday (Oct 19).
"The second day of the search will be divided into two areas, from the location of the incident towards the estuary heading to the sea, and the other from the estuary inward.
"We will be assisted by local fishermen and we urge those who wish to help to be coordinated by the police," he said.
ACP Mohd Farhan said that all participants involved were training for the highlight of the Regata Sarawak-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2024, scheduled for Nov 1 to 3.
"Following this incident, we will also monitor the situation and other regatta teams that are training are urged to focus on safety and to wear lifejackets during training sessions," he said.
The five missing are Mohamad Ikhmal Sama'ail, Majurie Maharuf, Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, Mohamad Khairul Bidin and Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Kasturi, aged 22 to 35. –Bernama
