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One of the bodies of the drowned victims is being buried in the Kampung Hulu Muslim Cemetery here. Photo by Tan Song Wei
SRI AMAN (Jan 2): Six of the victims who drowned after their four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle sank in the Batang Lupar River on New Years Day were buried in a Muslim cemetery in Kampung Hulu. here around 5.30. pm today.
Mohamad Hamzah Razali, 43, whose wife Siti Aishah Abdullah, 36, and five of their children were buried in a solemn ceremony, told reporters that his wife insisted on sending their children back to school in Kuching. Friday with his sister Lorna Ting, 33. , one of the drowned victims.
“My wife insisted yesterday on sending our children to school in Kuching with her sister. Usually my wife and I would go find our children and send them to school in Kuching ourselves, ”said Mohamad Hamzah, who was a preacher.
He said he first learned of the tragedy after receiving a call from his mother-in-law around 3:19 p.m. on Friday and the last message he received from his wife was after Friday prayers, telling her that the family was already in. on the way to Kuching. using two vehicles.
Mohamad Hamzah showing the text conversation he had with his wife, Siti Aishah Abdullah. Photo by Tan Song Wei
However, Mohamad Hamzah said that he accepted the fate that had befallen his family as a test from God and decided to bury his family in the Kampung Hulu Cemetery here.
The victims who were buried today in Kampung Hulu Muslim Cemetery were Siti Aisha, Nur Syuhada Mohd Hamzah (16), Khairunnisa Muhd Hamzah (14), Mohd Mustaqim Mohd Hamzah (five), Mohd Aiman Mohd Hamzah (seven ) and a – the old Mohd Ahmad Mohd Hamzah.
The bodies of three of the remaining victims, Ting (33), Wallace Phang (seven) and Alvin Phang (12) are scheduled to be transported back to Sibu tonight.
On Friday, the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) received a distress call around 3:14 p.m. stating that a 4WD vehicle had fallen into the river from the Triso ferry point and that station personnel Simunjan and Saratok Bomba was sent to the scene.
Sri Aman District Police Chief DSP Bingkok John said the vehicle traveling from Kapit to Kuching via the Jalan Beladin-Meludam route was believed to have lost control before falling into the river, killing the driver already all passengers on board.
The police chief said members of the public in the jetty areas then managed to tie up the vehicle with iron chains and ropes to prevent the vehicle from sinking further before removing all the victims.
A heartbreaking video that had gone viral on social media showed members of the public running into the water to remove the victim from the downed vehicle and some people were recorded performing CPR on the victims.
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