Lundu boat tragedy: Overloading might be the cause, says district police chief

LUNDU (Aug 20): The boat capsize tragedy in Sungai Batang Kayan here this morning is suspected to have occurred due to overloading, said Lundu district police chief DSP Damataries Lautin

He said initial investigation revealed that around 6.15am, the wooden boat with 20 passengers onboard, comprising 16 students and four adults, and a motorcycle, was crossing the river from Kampung Selampit.

The boat started capsizing when it reached the middle of the river, he said, adding that overloading might have caused the incident.

Of all the 16 students, he said 12 managed to swim to safety while the rest were rescued by villagers nearby.

“One of them was discovered and had been rescued after drifting about 1km away,” he said, adding that three were still missing.

The three were identified as Alsma Jithil, 14, Vikie Wilson, 15, and Helena Fasha Petrus, 16, all students of SMK Senibong.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, who came to the village jetty to assess the situation, said further investigation would be carried out to find the root cause of the incident.

“It is understood that apart from the passengers, the boat was also ferrying a motorcycle, so I have directed for a detailed investigation to be carried out,” he told reporters when met.

Bomba senior officer Khairul Md Nor, meanwhile confirmed that there were a total of 20 passengers onboard, comprising 16 students and four adults, and a motorcycle.

“Of the total number of students, 15 are from SMK Senibong and one is from SMK Lundu.

“Thirteen students were rescued, but the remaining three are still missing,” he told reporters after a briefing with the search and rescue team after the operation was postponed for today.

Operations commander Joseph Diea said the operation will resume tomorrow at 7am.