Three police officers were killed after they were electrocuted while allegedly attempting to harvest coconuts using a metal pole in Kampung Weston, Beaufort, Sabah, on Thursday evening.
The victims, all attached to the Weston Police Station, were identified as Chiu Teck Siong, 40, Mohamad Nur Hafiz Ibrahim, 29, and Muhammad Raimi Ismarubee, 26.
According to the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), emergency responders received a distress call at 5.56pm regarding the incident, which occurred at around 5.50pm.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Pisar Aziz said initial investigations indicated that the three officers were using a metal pole to knock down coconuts when it came into contact with an overhead power cable.
Witnesses said the metal pole touched the live electrical line, causing all three officers to suffer fatal electric shocks at the scene.
Before firefighters arrived, members of the public attempted to contain the situation using two dry powder fire extinguishers.
Firefighters later secured the area while personnel from Sabah Electricity disconnected the power supply, allowing rescue teams and police officers to safely recover the victims.
The bodies were subsequently handed over to the police for further action.
Authorities confirmed the operation ended after the area was declared safe, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
