SIMUNJAN: At the break of dawn at 6.26am today, Fire and Rescue Department members arrived in droves at the Sebuyau ferry dock to search the Batang Lupar river for the missing helicopter which several VIPs, including a federal deputy minister were onboard.
The team is the first set to scour the wide, crocodile-infested river where the AS350 Eurocopter Ecureuil aircraft is believed to have been last spotted on radar at about 5pm yesterday.
The search area will cover a 10km radius. The dock is located at the Batang Lupar estuary facing the South China Sea.
The Fire and Rescue department team comprises units from Simunjan, Samarahan and Kuching. As of now three boats have been deployed to course over the deep and rough waters.
Operations chief Azman Julaihi who is also the Fire and Rescue Department Samarahan Zone Head, said 24 rescuers were involved in the search mission here.
"We will conduct our search from the sea, Batang Lupar river, to areas in Linggi. Other than that, we will also scout for potential areas like Batang Sadong where the helicopter might have gone missing.
"The search party's line-up is also formed by members of our STORM and MUST teams."