KINABATANGAN: A man was killed in a crocodile attack in Kinabatangan, while a separate incident involving a fire at a workers’ quarters was reported in Beluran on Tuesday.
In the first incident, 28-year-old Mohd Rayyan Abdullah was grabbed by a crocodile while catching freshwater prawns with his father in Kampung Segaliud. The attack occurred along the road leading to Sk. Segaliud Seri Linkas.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Operations Centre received an emergency call regarding the incident at 8.22 pm. A four-member team from the Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was immediately despatched to the scene, located about 30 kilometres away, to initiate a search and rescue operation.
“On the second day of the search, which resumed at 9.15 am on Wednesday, the firemen were joined by other rescue agencies and villagers. The victim’s body was handed over to the police for further action after firemen discovered it at 9.55 am floating about 500 metres from the location where he was last seen,” disclosed a Sabah Fire and Rescue Operations Centre spokesperson.
Meanwhile, a row of four-door workers’ quarters at an oil palm plantation in Beluran was destroyed in a fire.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Operations Centre received an emergency call via the NG999 line at 9.53 pm. Nine personnel from the Beluran station were despatched to the scene, about 27 kilometres from the station, with two fire engines.
Arriving at 10.32 pm, firefighters found the 60 x 30 square foot quarters completely engulfed in flames. Using 200 feet of hose and three water jets, they drew water from the engines and a nearby factory fire hydrant to extinguish the fire.
The firefighting efforts were assisted by the factory’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) and police. The blaze was brought under control by 10.37 pm, and operations concluded at 11.40 pm.
While there were no injuries or fatalities in the fire, the cause of the blaze and the total value of losses are still under investigation. The operation was led by Operations Commander PBK I Mohamed Arshad Kadir, alongside Senior Operations Commander Assistant Fire Superintendent Edoen Macheal. – James Leong
The victim’s body was handed over to the police for further action after firemen discovered it at 9.55 am floating about 500 metres from the location where he was last seen.
