DARO, Jan 19 — The bodies of the three women who drowned in the Daro longboat mishap yesterday were flown by helicopter for burial in their village of Kampung Tekajong today.
The Nuri helicopter left here at about 1.45pm.
Meanwhile, police in Daro have released the names of the eight people still missing after the boat capsized.
They are Borhan Bordan, Riji Dalol, Mahdani Akim, Abu Bakar Mahli, Kalsum bt Mat, Ebong Rais, Nur bt Abdullah and Naibi Saibi.
The mishap happened at about 1pm on the Batang Lassa, a tributary of the Rajang River, when a huge wave capsized a longboat carrying 27 people from Kampung Tekajong returning to their village after attending a wedding in Kampung Saai.
Sixteen people aged between 23 and 69 managed to save themselves. Three women drowned and eight people went missing.
Some 100 officers and personnel of the Mukah, Sungai Merah (Sibu) and Sibu Central fire and rescue departments, People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), Police, Department of Civil Defence and Sarawak Rivers Board as well as local villagers are involved in the search operation.
Intermittent rain from 1pm today did not dampen the search team’s commitment.
Semok assemblyman Abdullah Saidol and Daro assemblyman Murni Suhaili are among those here to assist in the operation. — Bernama
