KUCHING: A man is feared to have drowned after a boat carrying nine people capsized in the Banting River near Rh Charang in Lingga, about 236km from here, on Tuesday (June 2) afternoon.
The boat is reported to have suffered engine failure and crashed into a bridge pillar.
A spokesman for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre said the victim, identified as Gerald Lansam, 42, was swept away by the strong current, while the other eight occupants were rescued by villagers.
"The victim was reported to have clung to a bridge pillar following the incident before he was seen sinking and being swept away by the current as villagers attempted to reach him to provide assistance," the spokesman said.
The department received an emergency call at 1.15pm and sent a team of six personnel from the Sri Aman fire station to the scene.
"Upon arriving at the location at 2.45pm, firefighters were informed that the boat had drifted after experiencing engine trouble before colliding with a bridge pillar.
"The collision caused the bow of the boat to break apart and the vessel overturned in the fast-flowing river," he said.
He added that a search and rescue operation is being carried out, with firefighters and villagers conducting surface searches by boat in the area where the victim was last seen. – Bernama
