The victims (front row) of the boat capsize at the wharf with army personnel, Puyang Anyie (second right), Lieutenant Shukeri (left) and SRB Marudi officer Hurang Wan (fourth left).
MARUDI: Four Kayan passengers from Long Panai survived when a small longboat ferrying them to an evacuee centre capsized in Tutoh River at Long Panai, Tutoh Basin, yesterday.
They were among the 248 evacuees sheltering at the hall of SK Long Panai.
They were rescued by the 20th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment stationed at long Panai that was patrolling the Tutoh River.
Their leader was Lieutenant Shukri Sharean.
According to one of the victims, Puyang Anyie, 48, she had not expected their boat to capsize when hit by waves.
They all tried to save themselves by swimming, but the small boy could not swim so was assisted by his grandmother.
A team from Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) in Marudi happened to pass by.
“They are all safe,” Lieutenant Shukeri Sharean said when met at SMK Tutoh Apoh Wharf.