SEBUYAU: Search and rescue (SAR) operations for two missing men ― Francis Awi and Isa Uja ― have still not yielded any new leads as the search enters its seventh day and fourth day respectively tomorrow.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director First Admiral (Maritime) Zin Azman Md Yunus said the search for Francis in the Pulau Burong waters entered Day 6 today.
“The search is still focused around the waters of Pulau Burong, Sebuyau and Triso, and has been expanded to 28.60 square nautical miles.
“Overall, the total search area from the first day to today was 947.82 square nautical miles,” he said.
A total of 60 rescuers from MMEA, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Civil Defence Force (APM), Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG) and the public, are involved in the search for Francis, with five maritime assets deployed.
Thirty-nine-year-old Francis, who is a crew member of a fishing boat, was reported to have fallen into the waters of Pulau Burong on Monday. The incident happened around 6.30 am, about 10 nautical miles off Sebuyau.
Meanwhile, First Admiral (M) Zin Azman said the search for Isa in Sungai Rama entered Day 3 today, and two boats from Bomba and APM were involved.
Thirty-five-year-old Isa, a crew member of a boat, was reported missing after the boat capsized when it collided with a sand cargo ship in Sungai Rama on Wednesday.
It was said that the victim and his friend were aboard the boat and heading back to Sebuyau before the collision happened around 3am.
The friend managed to save himself by holding onto the rope of the cargo ship while the victim disappeared into the waters.
