– Bernama
KUCHING: Large or private boats on the Sarawak River have been told to slow down when passing through the area used by those training for an upcoming regatta.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said regatta participants are also advised to wear safety vests during training and competition organisers should provide an escort boat.
"When public vessels slow down, the waves produced are not so large... previous regatta training did not enforce the use of life jackets so I advise boaters to wear it to avoid a recurrence," he said at the search and rescue operation centre at Royal Bay Commercial Centre here on Saturday (Oct 19).
On Friday (Oct 18), five regatta participants in training were reported missing and feared drowned after their long boat sank after it was hit by the wake from a fishing boat.
On the search, Mancha said murky river waters were limiting divers' vision for objects detected on the riverbed.
"We are also using drones and the Fire and Rescue Department has carried out six dives to the river bed so far since 6am but we have not found any sign of the victims.
"We ask all victims' families to be patient and we will work until all are found," he said. Adding that as of noon, the search area had covered 10km from the scene of the incident.
In the incident on Friday, 11 of 16 regatta participants, who are also Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit personnel, managed to save themselves.
However, five boaters are still missing and have been identified as Mohamad Ikhmal Sama'ail, 34; Majurie Maharuf, 32; Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26; Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26; and Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Kasturi, 23.
They were training for the highlight of the Sarawak-Kuching 2024 Waterfront Regatta Festival which will be held from Nov 1-3. – Bernama
