LAHAD DATU: A five‑year‑old girl was pulled into the water by a crocodile while playing near the shoreline along Jalan Felda Sahabat 16, Desa Kencana, on Sunday.
The Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call via NG999 at 10.27am. Initial reports indicated the incident occurred around 10.00 am, when the victim was wading in shallow waters before being attacked and dragged out to sea.
A team of four firefighters, led by PB Mohammad Haidibi Faisal, was despatched to the scene, located 74 kilometres from the station. The Search and Rescue (SAR) operation also involved seven policemen, seven Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel, and four wildlife rangers.
The SAR operation resumed at 9.55 am on April 20. Firemen scoured the coastline within a five‑kilometre radius of the attack site. The search was suspended at 5.15 pm and continued on Tuesday morning.
As of the time of publication, the victim has not been found.
Meanwhile, a tanker lorry caught fire on Jalan Layong, along Jalan Nipah Tengah, Lahad Datu on Monday.
The emergency call was received at 7.13 pm. Fire engines from the Lahad Datu station arrived within seven minutes, covering a distance of three kilometres. Eight firefighters under Operation Commander PB Akbar Mohambar responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, firemen found that almost five percent of the lorry had been affected, with flames concentrated on the rear tyres. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze using a hose reel line. The fire was brought under control by 7.27 pm, and operation concluded at 7.51 pm.
No casualties were reported.
In Semporna, a double‑decker express bus was completely gutted by fire along Jalan Semporna‑Kunak on Monday.
The bus caught fire while heading to Kota Kinabalu for maintenance. No passengers were on board at the time of the incident.
The emergency call was received at 10.50 pm. Fire engines were despatched to the scene situated 20 KM from the Semporna station, arriving at 11.11 pm. Eight firefighters led by PB II Mohd Nazir Korong conducted the firefighting operation, assisted by two policemen.
The fire was contained at 11.28 pm, and the operation was fully concluded at 11.52 pm.
No injuries were reported. – James Leong
The double-decker express bus up in flames at Jalan Semporna-Kunak on the evening of April 20.
