GIRL, MAN SWEPT AWAY

Girl, man swept away

RANAU 28 August 2012: A 3-year-old girl and a man went missing after their four-wheel-drive vehicle was swept away by strong currents at Sungai Kaingaran, near here, on Saturday.

During the 7pm incident, they were on their way to Kampung Kiawayan with seven other passengers.

The driver was trying to cross the river when it suddenly swelled.

He then lost control of the vehicle and it was dragged downstream by the waters.

A search has been launched for the missing two, identified as Elsey Charles, 3, and Marudin Limboy, 40.

Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohd Affendi Ramin said the other passengers managed to save themselves.

"The survivors were two men and five women, aged 15 to 60."

------------

Dua dihanyut arus

RANAU: Seorang lelaki dan seorang kanak-kanak perempuan berusia tiga tahun dikhuatiri lemas apabila kenderaan pacuan empat roda dinaiki mereka bersama tujuh penumpang lain dihanyutkan arus deras ketika menyeberang sungai dalam kejadian di Sungai Kaingaran, di sini, kelmarin.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira jam 7 malam, mangsa yang masih hilang dikenali Marudin Limboy, 40, dan Elsey Charles, 3, manakala tujuh penumpang lain membabitkan empat lelaki dan tiga wanita berjaya menyelamatkan diri.

Mereka yang terselamat dikenali Limon, 60; Yutin, 46; Mencis Limon, 33, Micheal, 24, dan tiga penumpang wanita iaitu Renimulok, 50; Salmah, 38, dan Justinah, 15.

Sebelum kejadian, pacuan empat roda Toyota Land Cruiser itu dikatakan dalam perjalanan dari pekan ini menuju Kampung Kawiyan yang terletak di seberang sungai berkenaan.

Sumber berkata, sebaik meredah sungai itu, pemandu pacuan empat roda terbabit dikatakan memberhentikan kenderaan di tengah sungai bagi memberi laluan kepada sebuah lagi kenderaan dari arah bertentangan.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, arus deras yang melanda sungai itu secara tiba-tiba menyebabkan kenderaan terbabit hanyut dan mula tenggelam.

“Beberapa penumpang bergegas menyelamatkan diri dengan berenang ke tebing, manakala dua lagi mangsa gagal berbuat demikian sehingga tenggelam dibawa arus.

“Penumpang yang terselamat berjaya menghubungi polis sebelum memaklumkan perkara itu kepada Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) bagi menggerakkan operasi mencari dan menyelamat,” katanya.

Namun, lokasi kejadian yang terletak jauh di pedalaman selain ketiadaan jalan berturap dan laluan berbukit sejauh 60 kilometer menyebabkan anggota bomba dan penyelamat hanya boleh memulakan kerja mencari dan menyelamat pada awal pagi semalam.

Oleh Junaidi Ladjana

---------------

Two missing after vehicle swept away by current

RANAU August 28, 2012: Two people, including a three-year-old girl, had been reported missing and feared drowned after the Land Cruiser Wagon they were traveling in with seven others were swept away by strong water current while crossing the Kangairan River (Sungai Kaingaran) near here on Saturday.

Marudin Limboy, 40, and three-year-old Elsey Charles, had not been found despite search efforts being carried out by the Fire and Rescue Services Department personnel and villagers since Sunday.

Those who survived were Mencis Limon, 33; Maichel, 24; Limon, 60; Renimulok, 50; Salmah, 38, Yutin, 46, and Justinah, 15.

It was said that Marudin and Elsey were among seven people traveling in the Land Cruiser Wagon heading to Kampung Kiawaiyan from Ranau township when the 7pm incident happened.

It is believed that the driver had to stop the wagon in the middle of the shallow river to allow a vehicle that was in front to drive up the river bank.

The water current from a nearby hill suddenly changed and swept away the wagon that was still in the middle of the river.

Seven people inside the vehicle managed to swim to the river bank while two others were missing.

Search operation for the two missing persons was only carried out on Sunday due to the location and bad road condition into the village.

Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Services Department public relations officer Mohd Affendy Ramin said the search operation was still being carried out since Sunday morning.

As of press time, both victims had still not been found and the search operation will continue today at 6am.