TAWAU: A man was found dead after being carried away by the strong currents of a flood during an incident involving a four-wheel drive vehicle and two motorcycles in Kampung Sungai Udin on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred around 9:34 PM, when the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department’s Operations Center received an emergency call via the NG999 hotline regarding the victim being swept away by the floodwaters in the area.
The Chief of the Tawau Fire and Rescue Station, Jemishin Ujin, stated that based on initial information, a four-wheel drive vehicle carrying two motorcycles attempted to cross a flooded road before being swept away by the strong current.
“The Tawau Fire Station team was dispatched to the scene, which is approximately 45 kilometers away, and arrived at 10:47 PM.
“Four victims were involved in the incident, consisting of two men in the four-wheel drive vehicle and two motorcyclists who were riding on the back of the vehicle,” he said.
He mentioned that three victims were successfully rescued unharmed, while one was reported missing after being swept away by the flood.
“Following this, a search and rescue (SAR) operation was initiated using surface search methods along the riverbank within a one-kilometer radius from the location where the victim was believed to have fallen,” he added.
He noted that the SAR operation involved eight Tawau Fire Station personnel, assisted by the Merotai Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Umas Volunteer Fire Brigade, along with support from other agencies including the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).
“The missing victim was eventually found at 7:15 AM by a plantation worker, approximately 800 meters from the incident site.
“The man, believed to be in his 30s, was retrieved using a stretcher before being handed over to the police for further action,” he said.
