Five missing after boat capsizes in Sarawak River during regatta training

KUCHING (Oct 18): Five rowers went missing after their boat, carrying 15 people, capsized during a training session for the Sarawak Regatta in the Sarawak River today.

According to a spokesperson from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the department received an emergency call about the incident around 4.20pm.

A rescue team was immediately dispatched to the scene near the Royal Bay Commercial Centre, Jalan Buruh Bintawa.

“Ten of them managed to swim to safety while five others were still missing,” said the spokesperson.

The missing men have been identified as Mohammad Ikhmal Sama’ail, 34; Majurie Maharuf, 32; Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26; Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26; and Muhammad Khairul Hisham Kasturi, 23.

At the time of writing, a search-and-rescue (SAR) operation by Bomba and the marine police is underway to find the missing rowers.

At the time of reporting, a search-and-rescue (SAR) operation involving Bomba and marine police is ongoing to locate the missing rowers.