KOTA BELUD - A young girl drowned while swimming at an ecotourism centre in Sungai Kadamaian, Kampung Ratau, here yesterday.
The girl, Qiezlle Uyiko, who was 14 years old went missing after being carried away by the river's current at around 2.30pm.
The fire and rescue team from Kota Belud received a distress call at 2.49pm through the emergency line 999.
Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Station chief Muhammad Syazwan Latun said nine personnel were dispatched to the scene and a search and rescue (SAR) operation was subsequently carried out.
"Qiezlle, who was from Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, had come to the nature center with her family for a day by the river.
"Witnesses said that she drowned beneath a suspension bridge while taking a shower with her family.
"The search operation on the first day had two parts: searching along the river for up to four kilometers, and searching within a 50-meter radius from where the girl was last seen," he told Sinar when contacted today.
Muhammad Syazwan however said that the victim could not be located and the operation resumed earlier today.
"The search resumed on Tuesday, starting at 8 am. They used a boat to search a radius of four kilometers.
"As of now, the girl has not been found, and updates will be provided regularly," he added.