Victims disappeared while searching for forest products in Song still missing

SONG, 27 Oct: Second day search and rescue (SAR) operation of a man who disappeared while looking for forest crops in Pera River area, Nanga Bangkit here, still fails to locate the victims.

The victim, James Nanta, 52, was reported missing on October 22 after leaving the home of Sebastian Tambi's House, Nanga Bangkit, at around 11am to search for forest products.

According to the Centre for Operational Movements (PGO) of the Malaysian Department of Bombing and Rescue (JBPM) Sarawak, the second day SAR operation today involved members of Song Bombing and Rescue Hall (BBP), police, Malaysian Public Defence Force (APM) as well as villagers.

"The rescue team started the journey to the site at 10 am using a four-wheeled racing vehicle through Balak Road for about two hours and 10 minutes before continuing the journey by long boat.

"At 2:00 p.m., rescue teams conducted a search within a radius of about four kilometers in the river area from where the victim's boat was found", the statement said.

However, the victim was still unable to be found before the operation was postponed at 4.30 pm on orders of Chief Song District Police due to weather factors and a long journey home.

The SAR operation is scheduled to resume tomorrow with the involvement of five bombers, four policemen, four APM members and 17 villagers.

Among the challenges faced by the rescue team were a long journey to the location via ferry routes and using long boats, as well as the lack of GIRN radio coverage in the area. -TVS