Body of drowned 12-year-old found in Tuaran river

Rescuers have discovered the body of a 12-year-old girl who went missing while swimming in a river in Tuaran, located about 40km away from Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. This tragic incident marks the sixth drowning case involving children or teenagers in Sabah and Labuan this month. The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department personnel found the remains of Syaza Wardiah Muesa at 11.47am. Tuaran fire chief, Mohd Abdul Qawie Abdul Gapar, stated that the girl disappeared while swimming with two friends in a river at Kampung Serusop on Wednesday, August 30, at 2.30pm. He further explained that the victim’s body was discovered at the exact location where she was last seen, at a depth of 4.6 meters. The Health Ministry’s medical officers, who were part of the search and rescue operation that commenced at 6.23am, verified her death on site. The police have taken custody of the body for further procedures, and the operation concluded at 12.10pm.

Syaza Wardiah Muesa was swept away by strong currents. Although a witness successfully rescued her friends, they were unable to reach the victim in time. Sadly, this is not the first drowning incident in recent times. On August 1, seven-year-old Romy Azlan drowned after the boat he was onboard capsized in Sandakan waters. While traveling from Pulau Timbang jetty to Kampung Mumiang, the vessel hit an object in the river at around 2.30pm, causing it to overturn. Although five individuals were saved, Romy Azlan went missing, and his body was discovered the following day.

In another heartbreaking incident, a teenage girl, Qiezlle Uyiko, 14, drowned during a family outing at Sungai Kadamaian in Kampung Ratau, located approximately 120km away from Kota Kinabalu. She was carried away by river currents around 2.30pm on Monday, August 28. Moreover, on August 21, after an extensive 36-hour search in Labuan, the bodies of two young anglers, Yasin Johnar, 20, and Mohammad Shah, 19, who had gone missing at sea, were found by local fishermen.

These repeated drowning incidents raise concerns about water safety, particularly for children and teenagers, in Sabah and Labuan. It is crucial to prioritize preventive measures and educate individuals on water safety practices to mitigate the risk of such tragic accidents.