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Free Malaysia Today
07-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Belawai boat capsized due to overloading, say police
Five more victims of the boat that capsized off Belawai, Sarawak, were found this morning. (JBPM pic) PETALING JAYA : Overloading caused a boat to capsize off Belawai, Sarawak, killing 10 people on Saturday, say police. Sarikei police chief Aswandy Anis said an early investigation found that the fibreglass boat was not designed to carry 17 people or the extra baggage it had, Kosmo reported. 'The small boat became hard to control and sank after it encountered rough waves,' he said at a press conference after a search-and-rescue operation this morning. The Sarawak fire and rescue department said rescuers had found five more victims in the morning, bringing the total number of casualties to 10. A spokesman said the bodies of the victims – all Indonesian nationals – were recovered by villagers as well as the Sarawak coast guard. In the incident at about 2pm on Saturday, the fibreglass boat carrying 17 Indonesian nationals from the Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty capsized en route to the Zion Pelita coconut plantation jetty. The seven survivors comprised four men, two women and a boy. Aswandy reminded boat operators and residents to priortise safety while travelling in both the rivers and the sea. 'Don't take safety lightly. Even rivers can see sudden strong waves,' he said.
Malay Mail
07-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Fifth body found in Sarawak's Belawai boat tragedy as SAR enters second day
TANJUNG MANIS, July 7 — The second day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation for victims of the tragic boat capsize off Pantai Belawai yesterday brought another heartbreaking discovery, as rescuers found the body of a young boy. According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the body was recovered at around 6pm, about 300 metres downstream from the SAR operations post. The current tally stands at five confirmed dead, five still missing, and seven rescued. Among the deceased already identified are two women and three children. All five missing persons are adult men. The incident last Saturday involved a fibre boat carrying 17 Indonesian nationals from the Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty to a plantation workers' jetty at the Pelita Zone. The SAR operation resumed early yesterday morning involving personnel from multiple agencies, including the Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Civil Defence Force, Sarawak Rivers Board, People's Volunteer Corps, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit, and local villagers. Specialied teams such as the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) and K9 Unit were deployed, with K9 dog Bella assisting in the search efforts. The search area was widened to a five-kilometre radius, and operations were divided into upstream and downstream sectors for better coordination. The operation was temporarily suspended at 6.40pm yesterday and will continue today. — The Borneo Post
