84-year-old woman still missing in forest

0

Jamelia went missing after she entered the forest to look for ‘daun kembung’ leaves.

BELURAN: Police are still actively searching for an 84-year-old woman who was reported missing near Kampung Tandu, Kampung Hujung, Jambongan Island here since last Sunday.

Beluran District Police Chief Superintendent Sivanathan Velauthan said that Jamelia Ungung or better known as Bavu Mili, was last seen on January 13 about 2pm when she left her house and went to a forest near Kampung Tandu, Kampung Hujung, Jambongan Island, to look for ‘kembung’ leaves.

After searching for Jamelia who did not return home after she left her house, her family members then lodged a police report on the island on January 14 at about 4.53pm.

According to Sivanathan, a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation was initiated with a few police and 11 armed forces personnel who are stationed at the island. They were also assisted by some 30 villagers.

“However, to date (Tuesday), the victim has yet to be found,” he said.

Meanwhile, head of Terusan Sugut Police Station, Sergeant Edwin Anak Dollah said the SAR operation on Monday had to be stopped from 7pm until 2am due to heavy rain.

“The operation resumed at 8am (Tuesday) until late evening, but the victim is yet to be found. The SAR team has found ‘kembung’ leaves that were arranged under a tree in the forest near the area, but we could not track the victim,” he said.

Edwin said that the victim, who is not married, is about four feet tall and was last seen wearing a light blue shirt with sarong, and was barefooted when she entered the forest.

Beluran Fire and Rescue Department chief Rastam Kaladi said the department received the report that the victim was missing on Tuesday about 5.35pm.

He said four firemen were sent to the island to assist in the SAR operation.  However, the firemen faced several obstacles when they had to go through heavy rain and waves during the two-hour-journey by boat from  Beluran town to Jambongan Island.