Search underway after ‘body’ spotted off Semporna

KOTA KINABALU: A search operation is underway after a “body” was reported floating off Semporna on Monday (July 11).

The Fire and Rescue Department said that the police received information from a tour boat operator at 1.18pm.

“As of now, we do not have information on this person as this was based on a tour boat operator claiming of seeing a human body floating in the waters.

“The Fire and Rescue team is assisting the General Operation Force (GOF) in the search operation,” it said.

“A search was done within a 4km radius between Pulau Selakan and Pulau Tetagan but authorities have not located the victim,” said the Department.

It added that the operation was postponed at 5pm due to weather conditions and will resume on Tuesday (July 12) morning.

Meanwhile, the search and rescue operation for a 25-year-old man who is feared drowned at Tenom has entered its third day.

He was initially reported missing on Saturday (July 9).

Alphonius @Ebon Ambabai was earlier reported to have been washed away by currents as he tried to cross Sungai Padas at Kuala Tomani to fish with nets.

A Department spokesperson said that the four teams have been searching along the river bank at a four-kilometre radius from where the victim was reported missing.

“The victim has yet to be found. The search was halted at 5.10pm and will be continued on Tuesday,” said the spokesperson.