KOTA BARU: A K9 sniffer dog named Frankie has been deployed to help search for a labourer feared drowned after falling from a boat into Sungai Kelantan in Ketereh.
Ketereh Fire and Rescue Station chief Ahmad Fakharuddin Berahim said no trace of Mohd Aqbar Che Abdullah, 34, had been found, about 28 hours after he was reported missing.
He said the search operation resumed today, involving 17 firefighters, 10 policemen and seven members of the Water Rescue Unit.
“An English Springer Spaniel sniffer dog from the Fire and Rescue Department headquarters will be deployed to assist in the search.
“We believe the victim may be trapped among vegetation along the riverbank.
“Scuba divers will conduct searches at hotspots identified by the K9 unit,” he said at the scene today.
Ahmad Fakharuddin said the operation was also being assisted by 10 boats belonging to villagers, with the search radius extended to three kilometres from the incident site.
He said the victim might have been swept away by the river current, prompting rescuers to focus their search on the water’s surface.
“We have also received assistance from an operator who provided a larger boat to enable searches in areas covered by bamboo groves and thick vegetation.
“We believe that if the victim is trapped in these areas, he may eventually surface,” he said.
Meanwhile, family members and villagers gathered at the incident site and the search area near the Kedai Piah jetty, including the victim’s wife, Nor Asnida Mohd Tarmizi, 32, who had been waiting since 7am.
It was reported yesterday that Aqbar was feared drowned after falling from a boat while working at a sand-dredging site there.
A co-worker reportedly saw him struggling in the water before he disappeared beneath the surface at 8.30am.