Tuaran: A Chinese tourist is feared to have drowned after reportedly disappearing in the sea off Pantai Dalit, Tuaran, on Tuesday.
Tuaran Fire and Rescue Station Chief Kurong Ak Beki said firefighters received an emergency call at 12.17pm and deployed 15 personnel from the Tuaran and Lintas stations to the scene.
He said the operation involved personnel from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and about 50 staff from Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort.
According to witnesses, another Chinese tourist who was surfing spotted what appeared to be a person in the water calling for help.
Kurong said strong waves hampered search and rescue efforts, with teams conducting water surface searches along the shoreline and at sea using a rescue boat and rescue jet ski.
The search covered a radius of about 3km offshore and 400 metres along the shoreline, but no trace of the victim was found.
The operation was suspended at 6.26pm and will resume upon instructions from the police. The identity and status of the missing individual have yet to be confirmed.
