Residents of Kpg Kut help a police search and rescue team depart the jetty to look for the survivors while others look on.
Abdullah (left) comforts relatives of the boat tragedy at Daro Hospital.
The longboat was carrying a wedding entourage of 27 passengers when it flipped in Batang Lassa in Kampung Kut
SIBU: Folk of Kampung Kut, about 20-minute boat ride from Daro town, were rudely shaken yesterday afternoon when chilling screams for help reverberated through their normally quiet village.
The alert villagers immediately looked towards Batang Lassa and were horrified to see that a longboat had capsized and a large number of its passengers screaming for help in the choppy waters.
The villagers immediately jumped into their boats and set out to lend a helping hand even though the tide was high and it was raining heavily then.
They managed to pluck 16 passengers from the fast fl owing river to safety.
But the six-foot by 40-foot longboat, which sank at about 1.30pm, was carrying a wedding entourage of 27 persons, and at last count three were confirmed drowned and eight missing.
All drowned victims are women aged between 40 and 50 years.
One of them was found by villagers underneath the capsized boat, and the other two were found nearby.
Of the eight still missing, five are men and three women.
All the passengers are from Kampung Tekajong and they were returning from the wedding reception at Kampung Saei when the tragedy struck.
It is believed that the longboat, which used to double as a fishing boat and for ferrying passengers, overturned after being hit by big waves.
Sibu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Abdul Mutalib Rashid confi rmed that three passengers had drowned and eight still missing.
Bomba Mukah first picked up the distress call from Malacca at 1.52pm after the centre there received the emergency call.
Fire stations in Sibu, Mukah and Sarikei immediately rushed four teams to the scene.
Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) also despatched a team of six men, and joining in the searchand- rescue (SAR) operation were Civil Defence Dept (JPAM) and voluntary fire personnel from Daro.
Abdul Mutalib said a helicopter from their base in Miri and a bigger boat from Sibu would join in the SAR operation today.
In addition, SRB would be sending another rescue boat from Tanjung Manis today.
All the rescuers camped out at Kampung Kut last night, waiting for dawn to break before resuming the SAR operation.
Reporters from here who rushed to the scene yesterday were held back by the choppy waters.
Authorities had advised them against going out.
Meanwhile, Semop assemblyman Abdullah Saidol, who is also the chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, said an operation room had been set up at Kampung Kut to coordinate rescue efforts.
It is manned by personnel from Daro District Office, Sarikei Marine Operation Force, JPAM and Bomba.
“I am arranging food and other aids for the survivors and their family members right now,” he said when contacted at Daro Hospital.
“I have also taken steps to arrange for funeral arrangements in Kampung Tekajong.”