A tracking dog joins in the search for Noordin along the Kota Belud river.
KOTA KINABALU (Nov 25): A 51-year-old man is feared to have gone missing in a river near Kampung Lebak Moyoh, Kota Belud on Sunday.
According to a Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson, witnesses said Noordin Punjuh was last seen heading out to catch fish at 11am, and his family was worried after he did not return home.
He said at around 10pm, the victim’s younger sibling went to look for him but only found his fishing net, waistbag, handphone, slippers and pail by the riverside.
Fire and rescue personnel received a distress call at 8.28am on Monday, and a 14-man team from the Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station rushed to the scene.
“Assisted by villagers, police and other enforcement agencies, the team searched eight kilometres via surface water search by boat, on foot at the side of the river, as well as by using K9 tracking dogs.
“The operation was postponed at 6pm and will resume on Tuesday. Information will be updated from time to time,” he said in a statement.
In a separate case, authorities are also searching for a 34-year-old man feared to have gone missing in a forest near Kampung Tanaki, Papar on Monday.
The spokesperson said they were informed of the incident at around 6.56pm, and according to the caller, Andy Chia was last seen leaving his house at 6am to tap rubber trees.
He said they were alerted after the family realised the victim had not returned home, and a team rushed to the scene, 25 kilometres away, to search for him.
