FIREFIGHTERS FACE EXTREME CHALLENGES IN SEARCH OF MISSING WOMAN IN MARUDI

By Ibrahim Mahsen

SIBU, April 15 (Bernama) -- The Fire and Rescue Department team conducting a search and rescue operation in the interior of Marudi district, Miri division has had to endure extreme challenges - using treacherous logging trails, fording swift rivers and even travelling on foot - just to gain access to the location of the incident.

Marudi Fire and Rescue station operations officer, Nasir Razali said that such missions required a high level of physical and mental resilience as they had to endure difficult journeys to virtually inaccessible areas.

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“Even though we are quite used to the challenges of logging trails and rivers, the safety of our team is the priority. We still carry on to save lives,” the 30-year veteran said when contacted by Bernama today.

The operations team had started their journey at 5.30 am today to Sungai Sengayan, Long Jekitan, Baram to search for Dawellies Luing, 46, a staff of Sekolah Kebangsaan Jekitan who went missing after the four-wheel drive she and her daughter, Vallerie Mentie, nine, were in was swept away by swift currents while they tried to cross the river on Monday.

Vallerie was found drowned about two kilometres from the location of the incident yesterday by villagers and her body was brought back to her family home.

The search team arrived at the location of the incident at 3 pm and began operations together with other government agencies and villagers. Baram MP Datuk Anyie Ngau was also present at the scene.

The team then travelled to the victim’s home in Long Tikan about 15 kilometres from the incident location and the search was called off for the day an hour later.

The search will resume tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA