KOTA KINABALU: A teenager drowned and another youth is still missing after a boat with eight people aboard capsized at a rivermouth in Sabah’s Kota Belud district.
Six others, who were on a fishing trip, managed to swim to safety in the incident that occurred in waters off Kampung Tamau Batu Gadung around 5.20pm on Sunday (April 19).
Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station chief Elgie Bakuk said the first victim Mohd Dzul Nazri Abdul, 18, was found by villagers who rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A second victim, a 23-year-old, remains missing following the incident as search and rescue efforts continued on Monday (April 20).
One of the two victims feared drowned after their boat capsized in the waters off Kampung Tamau Batu Gadung here this evening has been confirmed dead after receiving treatment at Kota Belud Hospital.
Elgie said the Mohd Dzul was found about 700m from the location where the boat capsized.
“We have stepped up search operations for the second victim,” he said.
In the incident, the boat carrying eight people were believed to have been hit by strong waves before overturning at the river mouth, causing two victims to be swept away by the currents.
Six other victims, however, managed to save themselves by swimming to the riverbank.
