Local residents join in the search for the missing boy.
SIBU (June 16): An eight-year-old boy is feared to have drowned while playing in Sungai Mukah, behind SK Engkerbai in Mukah yesterday.
Mukah district police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias identified the boy as Muhammad Danish Muhammad Zamrie from SK Bukit Engkerbai Quarters, Mukah.
He said the victim was playing in the river while his friend, who is also eight-years-old, was watching from nearby.
“A few minutes later, the victim was struggling in the water as he sought for help,” he added.
Muhamad Rizal said the victim’s friend could not do anything to help because he himself was not a good swimmer.
“He decided to go back to the school and reported the incident to the school’s headmaster.”
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Operations centre said they received a distress call on the incident at about 10.44am and despatched eight personnel to the scene.
A search and rescue operation was immediately launched, which was also participated by eight police personnel, six members from Mukah Civil Defence Force, 10 school staff and 15 local residents.
The operation was suspended at 5.59pm yesterday as darkness fell and is expected to resume this morning.