Tsunami buoy maintenance halted after fatal accident

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KOTA KINABALU: The maintenance of a tsunami buoy at Sipadan Island on Sabah’s east coast has been halted due to a fatal accident while the buoy was being serviced on Thursday morning on board MV Pendamar, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

The department said the operation was part of a maintenance programme for the larger National Tsunami Early Warning System (SAATNM) that was being conducted by a team of specialists led by the deceased, Stig Erik Lyng.

Lyng was rushed to Semporna Hospital by the Police General Operation Force and pronounced dead upon arrival, it said in a statement yesterday.

Investigations, said the department, were being carried out by the relevant authorities and technical experts to determine the cause of the accident.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and its relevant agencies will provide the necessary assistance to expedite investigations and repatriation of the deceased to his home country.

The department said Lyng, 53, a specialist working with the buoy system for more than 30 years was one of the most experienced engineers in this field and had been involved with SAATNM programme since its implementation in 2005. Lyng is survived by his wife and two children.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili expressed his regret over the incident and conveyed his deepest condolences to the deceased family members.