KINABATANGAN: A 48-year-old man was killed, and another man aged 43 was injured early yesterday when the eight-ton lorry they were travelling in skidded off the road and overturned at Kampung Paris 2, Kinabatangan—while in a separate incident on Wednesday evening, a shop lot in Sandakan was damaged by fire.
The Kinabatangan Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call at 5.16 am and arrived at the lorry crash scene—located 40 kilometres from the station—at 5.40 am. Operations Commander PBKI Azemi Sidan reported that both victims were trapped inside the wreckage. Firefighters extricated the 43-year-old and handed him over to Ministry of Health (KKM) personnel for further medical attention.
“However, the second victim, aged 48, was found pinned beneath the front section of the lorry. Rescue teams used specialised hydraulic equipment alongside an excavator to lift the heavy front portion that was crushing him,” said Azemi.
The victim was eventually freed but was pronounced dead at the scene by KKM officers. His remains were later handed over to the police for further action. A total of six firefighters from the Kinabatangan station were deployed in the operation, supported by two policemen and three KKM personnel. The rescue effort concluded at 7.30 am.
Meanwhile, in Sandakan on Wednesday evening, a fire broke out at a ground-floor shop lot in Bandar Ramai-Ramai. The Sandakan Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call at 9.02 pm and arrived at the scene—just 6.2 kilometres away—within seven minutes, at 9.09 pm. Operations Commander PBK I Alan Ayuh reported that the fire involved a shop measuring 30 by 50 square feet, with approximately 40 percent of the structure damaged. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
Firefighters used one hose line with two jets, drawing a 300-foot water supply from the fire engine. The blaze was brought under control by 9.25 pm, and the operation concluded at 10.11 pm, according to Sandakan station chief Jimmy Lagung, who was also the Senior Operations Commander. A total of 14 firefighters took part in that operation. – James Leong
Scene of Thursday’s fatal accident in Kinabatangan.
