Nine drown after 4WD plunges into river in Sri Aman

 

The year 2021 began in Sarawak on a tragic note as nine people, including two children, drowned after the four-wheel-drive they were in plunged into Sungai Batang Lupar from the Triso ferry jetty in Sri Aman this afternoon.

According to information obtained from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations centre (PGO), all nine victims, comprising five males and four females, were pulled out of the river by members of the public.

A PGO spokesperson said by the time a search and rescue team from the Saratok fire station, located some 98km away, arrived at the scene, the victims had already been brought up to the jetty.

“The bodies were handed over to the police before being brought to the Beladin health clinic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Aman district police chief Bingkok John, who confirmed the incident, said police have yet to be furnished with the full details, including the victims’ identities.

- Bernama