Barge capsize: Body of another crane operator found

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The SAR team takes Kamal’s remains to Pulau Bruit.

The SAR team takes Kamal’s remains to Pulau Bruit.

SIBU: The body of another crane operator of a barge ‘Jin Fiat’ that sank near Pulau Bruit on the mouth of Rajang River on Saturday night was found about noon yesterday by the Search and Rescue team.

According to a source from the boat company, the body of the man identified as Kamal in his 30s was found about four miles from the tragedy scene.

His body was taken to the island before it was sent to the mortuary of Daro Hospital at 1pm.

The body of Kamal was the second found after four crew members went missing when Jin Fiat overturned during a  storm at 10pm Saturday.

The body of another crewman, Angga Wahyud, 24, from Indonesia, was found at 9am Monday.

His body was also taken to the island before being transferred to the mortuary of Daro Hospital.

According to a SAR team member, the search operation which began on Sunday involved personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force, Marine Police and the villagers. A helicopter was also deployed in the search operation.

He said they had set up an operation centre on the island.

The two still missing are skipper Pawi Nyawan, 50, and Kamal’s wife Mira.

The two survivors are another crane operator Melvin Francis, 20, and a crewman Kenny Clement, 18.

Melvin and Kenny saved themselves by climbing up the hull that jutted from the water after the boat overturned.

They were rescued at daybreak Sunday by passing fishermen.

A spokesman of the Fire and Rescue Department said ‘Jin Fiat’ measuring 60 feet by 140 feet was loaded with gravel before it capsized.

It arrived in Pulau Bruit at 3pm Saturday and was anchoring at mid-river waiting to reload its gravel to smaller craft on Sunday.

Before the tragedy struck at 10pm, the six persons in the boat noticed that the boat was tilting. They tried to throw out the gravel, but the boat capsized within minutes.

The search mission continues.