Man feared drowned after boat capsizes in Kapit

KAPIT (March 14): A 21-year-old man is feared drowned after a wooden boat carrying five workers capsized near the wharf area in Kapit last night.

Kapit Fire and Rescue (Bomba) chief PPgB Timoty Barat said the victim, Brando Jawi Mamba, went missing after the boat overturned while the group was returning from bathing in the river around 7pm on Friday.

“The incident occurred about 1.5 kilometres upstream from Kubu Wharf when the wooden boat they were travelling in capsized,” he said when contacted.

According to Timoty, four occupants managed to swim to safety, while Brando was reported missing and feared drowned.

He said the boat was believed to have been hit by large waves caused by a passing tugboat.

“The waves struck the wooden boat, causing it to overturn,” he added.

Bomba received a distress call at 3.59pm and dispatched a team from the Kapit station shortly after.

The search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted along the Batang Rajang using water surface search methods within a one-kilometre radius of the reported location.

The operation involved police and the Civil Defence Force (APM), with a rescue boat deployed for the search.

“However, the operation was suspended at 6pm due to darkness and will resume tomorrow morning,” he said.