At least 13 dead, others missing after boat-barge collision in Malaysia

At least 13 dead, others missing after boat-barge collision in Malaysia

2010-10-19 03:36:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

KUCHING, MALAYSIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 13 people were killed on Monday and several others are missing and feared dead after a boat-barge collision in Malaysia, local media reported.

According to The Star newspaper, a boat collided with a timber barge and sank in the Ulu Tatau River in central Sarawak, near Bakun and Bintulu. The boat was carrying approximately 30 passengers at the time of the accident, which happened between 2 and 3 p.m. local time.

Soon after the accident, the body of a baby girl was recovered along with 12 other bodies. Eleven individuals managed to swim to a shore and were rescued. However, the rest, around 10 people, are missing and feared to have drowned after becoming trapped underneath the boat.

Sarawak Marine Police and rescue crews undertook the search and rescue operations and called Monday's accident one of the worst maritime accidents in recent history in Sarawak.

The body of the five-month girl was sent to Bintulu hospital for an autopsy. The eleven survivors, eight adults and three children, were also transported to the hospital for evaluation. They were later released.

Many agencies and groups have joined the search. Among them are the Sarawak police, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Fisheries Department, local community organizations and local residents.

"All government departments, voluntary groups and community associations from here and Tatau are helping out in the search and rescue efforts," Bintulu Police Chief, Supt Sulaiman Abdul Razak, said.

In addition to native villagers, it was reported that the boat was also carrying government officials who were carrying out a survey of the area.

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