KOTA BELUD: A 25-year-old man is feared drowned after attempting to cross a river at Kampung Lebak Engad here on Wednesday afternoon.
Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station chief Elge Bakuk said the department received an emergency call at 1.18pm and deployed nine personnel to the scene, about 25 kilometres away, with a fire engine and an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) utility vehicle.
He said firefighters gathered information from the complainant and local residents before launching a search and rescue (SAR) operation, with an initial Surface Rescue search covering about 100 metres along the riverbank from where the victim was believed to have gone missing.
Elge said the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) from the Kota Marudu Fire and Rescue Station arrived at 4.30pm and carried out its first dive at the location where the victim was last seen, expanding the search radius to 500 metres, while police and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) also assisted in the operation.
The victim, identified as Wan Niezam, 25, had yet to be found when the operation was suspended at 6.30pm, with further updates to be issued as they become available.
