Surveyor missing after being swept away by strong currents in Ulu Teburong river

File photo for illustration purposes only. Photo credit: Pixabay/Tjena

By DayakDaily Team

LAWAS, March 19: A member of the Malaysian Survey Team was reported missing after being swept away by strong currents while crossing a river in Ulu Temburong on Wednesday night.

Donysius Gabriel Goh, 36, was conducting a Malaysia-Brunei border survey operation with five colleagues when the incident occurred.

In a TVS news, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak confirmed it received an emergency call at 9.19pm, prompting a team from the Lawas Station to be dispatched to the scene.

The incident reportedly took place around 8.30pm on March 17, when heavy rain caused the river currents to surge as the group attempted to cross to their campsite.

One team member was swept away and went out of sight, while the remaining five survived. Initial rescue efforts by Goh’s colleagues on the night of the incident were unsuccessful.

Search operations resumed the following morning within a 700-metre radius of the last known location, but the victim has yet to be found.

The five survivors returned to their base camp at 11.30am yesterday to report the incident and request further assistance.

Bomba Sarawak said the search and rescue operation would be conducted with the support of multiple agencies. The dense forest and challenging terrain, coupled with a lack of communication coverage, have complicated efforts.

The missing man was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, yellow socks, and rubber shoes. — DayakDaily