No sign of missing fisherman as search enters second day
MIRI: The search for a missing fisherman, whose unmanned boat was found washed ashore in Kuala Niah, entered its second day yesterday with no sign of the victim.
Ebrahim Yaman, 59, left his home at Kampung Kuala Sibuti on Tuesday morning and was spotted heading out to sea alone.
When he failed to return by 1pm, as was his routine, his nephew became worried and went on a search before coming across Ebrahim’s boat at the Kuala Niah beach, near Kampung Lajong.
According to the victim’s elder brother, Ketua Kaum Abdullah Yaman, villagers at Kampung Lajong had earlier spotted the unmanned boat circling on its own before it ran out of fuel and eventually washed ashore.
“I was in Miri when relatives informed me that Ebrahim’s boat had washed ashore.
“Based on some fish found in the boat, I believe my brother was making his way back when tragedy struck,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He added that his brother had mentioned to a relative several days ago that he was experiencing dizziness.
A search operation launched the same day was put off at 7pm due to darkness, before resuming at
I was in Miri when relatives informed me that Ebrahim’s boat had washed ashore. Based on some fish found in the boat, I believe my brother was making his way back when tragedy struck.
9am yesterday.
The Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba) in a statement said rescuers are searching a twokilometre radius along the coast but have yet to locate the victim as of 5pm.
“We were able to recover a pair of trousers, believed to be the victim’s, about one kilometre off the coast at 3pm. However, there is still no sign of the victim,” said a Bomba spokesperson.
The search operation is being conducted by Bomba, police, Civil Defence Force, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and local villagers, with more than 20 boats combing the area between Kuala Niah and Sibuti.
It is learned that Bekenu assemblywoman Rosey Yunus visited Ebrahim’s family at Kampung Kuala Sibuti yesterday morning to offer her moral support.
Ketua Kaum Abdullah Yaman, victim’s elder brother