A father and his four-year-old son were found dead while two others remain missing after a boat they were travelling in was believed to have capsized while heading to Long San Health Clinic in Sungai Baram recently.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre said the four victims from Kampung Long Selatong were reported missing after they failed to return home and could not be contacted by their family members.
The disappearance raised concerns among villagers, prompting a report to be lodged at Long Lama Police Station at about 11.23am yesterday.
Initial information revealed that a boat believed to have been carrying the victims was later found overturned in Sungai Seperot.
On the same day, villagers discovered the body of a four-year-old boy, identified as Jovian Jangin Joshua, before a search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched.
The child’s remains were later taken to Long San Health Clinic for further action.
The SAR operation, led by the Marudi Fire and Rescue Station, began at 6am today, with the team travelling for about five hours through logging roads before reaching the area at around 12.30pm.
During the operation, villagers informed the rescue team that another body had been found by the riverbank at about 8.50am, approximately two hours away by boat from the location where the capsized vessel was discovered.
Firefighters then used a boat belonging to villagers to reach the location and transported the body out using a stretcher.
Family members later confirmed the victim’s identity as Joshua Uken Mathew, 38, who was the father of Jovian Jangin.
The two remaining missing victims have been identified as Ceria Anak Dullah, 43, and Jonathan Nyurang Lusut, 45.
The SAR operation is continuing, focusing on areas along the river and locations identified based on information provided by villagers.
The operation, led by PBK I Eric Anak Unyi, involves three firefighters from the Marudi Fire and Rescue Station using a Triton pickup vehicle.
Rescue efforts have been challenging due to the difficult terrain and the long distance required to reach the operation area.
JBPM said the search will continue until the two missing victims are found or further instructions are issued by the authorities.
