BELAGA, May 28(Bernama) -- Unofficial figures say some 21 people are still missing while 181 others managed to swim to safety in the express boat sinking accident which occurred near here between 8.30am to 9.00am this morning.
A councillor of the Kapit District Council Roland Bete' Lahang when contacted said said the police and other related government departments assisted by timber camps, oil palm and timber plantation officials were still trying to work out the actual figures.
When contacted, Belaga District Officer Abdul Halim Abdullah accompanied by Hulu Rajang member of parliament Wilson Ugak Kumbong and Belaga state assemblyman Liwan Lagang were on their way to the scene this afternoon.
The express boat was extremely packed with timbercamp, oil palm and timber plantation workers returning home for the Gawai Dayak festival this weekend, according to Roland Bete'.
He added it (Bakun Mas Express boat) was on its way to Kapit and Sibu when it crashed onto rock in the Rajang River (at diam Bungan) after about 40 minutes of leaving Belaga town.
He said police and medical teams were at the scene now doing search and rescue operations.
-- BERNAMA
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