Death toll rises to nine in longboat tragedy
BY NIGEL EDGAR
Inconsolable: Family members of one of the victims grieving outside the morgue at the Daro Hospital. -Bernama
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DARO: A search team recovered five more bodies in the Batang Lassa boat tragedy, bringing the death toll to nine.
The victims had been travelling on a longboat, which was carrying 27 passengers who had attended a wedding at a village, when it sank on Saturday.
The body of Naibi Saibi, 60, was discovered yesterday at 6.45am.
This was followed by Borhan Bordan, 65, whose body was discovered at about 8am.
The third and fourth bodies were found about an hour later. They were identified as Kalsum Mat, 50, and Riji Dalol, 60.
At 5.35pm, the body of Abu Bakar Mahli, 62, was recovered.
All of the bodies have been brought to Daro to verify their identities.
The four victims whose bodies were found earlier were Norsiah Abdullah, 45, Melati Zerae, 50, Sekiah Kipli, 49 and Meliah Murni, 55.
State police chief DCP Datuk Wira Muhammad Sabtu Osman confirmed the latest find.
He added that the search was going on for two more individuals who are still missing.
The 27 wedding guests from Kampung Tekajong were returning to their village when the longboat capsized after it was said to have been hit by a huge wave at about 1pm on Saturday.
Sixteen people managed to swim to safety.
