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MIRI – A crewmate on board a barge laden with timber logs is missing in the South China Sea off the Kuala Baram coast in northern Sarawak, after he fell overboard when the vessel was battered by turbulent waves.
A search-and-rescue operation is underway at the location near the rivermouth of Sg Baram, about 35km north of the Miri city centre, said the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department today.
The department in Miri received an emergency alert from police at around noon today, it said in a press release.
“Police informed us that the incident happened on board the barge transporting logs from Bintulu Port.
“It was heading into the rivermouth of Sg Baram in Kuala Baram when it was hit by big waves.
“A tugboat was pulling the barge, which had crew on board. One of the crewmen at the back of the barge was said to have fallen overboard into the water when waves hit the barge.”
Rescue teams from the Miri fire station have been deployed to search for the man.
The search team is also gathering information on the identities and nationalities of the rest of the crew.
The search was still ongoing in the late afternoon today.
Northern and central Sarawak are being battered by turbulent weather which started late last week. – The Vibes, October 13, 2022