Search for Baram man missing during hunting trip continues

MIRI (Oct 1): Rescuers and volunteers today resumed the search for a man reported missing on Sept 29 in a jungle area near Kampung Long Laput in Baram.

The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said the search for Michael Asun Atang, 40, began at 7am involving three teams.

“The first team was assigned to search the river using three longboats, while the second team focused on the area from the longhouse to a cave where the victim was last seen,” it said in a statement.

The third team was tasked with searching an area within a 12km radius from the Bomba control post.

“This team, comprising Bomba, police and local villagers, also search several caves within that radius,” the department added.

Bomba said among the challenges faced by the rescuers were slippery logging roads and telecommunication issues.

On Sept 27, Michael and two others, identified as Stephan Wan Sin and Ah Ngung, entered the jungle around 1pm to hunt. The jungle is about a 90-minute walk from Kampung Long Laput.

After Stephan and Ah Ngung arrived back at the village without Michael, his family lodged a missing person report on Sept 29.

An initial search by the villagers found a shirt belonging to Michael hung on an oil palm tree.