The Star Online > 21 December 2009
KUCHING: Four young siblings were feared to have drowned after they fell into the Rejang River in Sungai Labaan near Sibu.
The four are brothers Wong Sie Kong, 12, and Sie Hou, eight, and sisters Sie Sang, 10, and Sie See, six.
The siblings, together with their parents, were looking for molluscs when the incident happened at about 3pm on Sunday. Their parents are safe.
Sibu acting police chief Supt Zamani Hamdan said a search and rescue operation involving three boats and about 25 police, fire and rescue services and civil defence personnel had been mounted for the missing children.
The family has chartered speedboats to join in the search, which was on-going at press time.
“The four children were walking in front of their parents when the incident happened.
“Their father managed to hold on his wife as she slipped down the riverbank,” Suopt Zamani told The Star when contacted Monday.
However, he said the couple failed to save their children as they slipped into the river.
Wong Yew Tiong, 40, his wife Tang Teck Leh, 35, and their four children had earlier visited a relative before they went to the nearby river to look for the molluscs.
The family is from Permai,Oya Road, Sibu.
Supt Zamani said a police team rushed to the scene at about 5pm after they were informed of the incident.
A worried Wong and family members, who were at the scene Monday, were praying for the safe return of the children.
However, Wong said the family is preparing for the worst.
---Update: 23 December 2009, 4.47pm press time, it was reported that the last of the 4 bodies of the siblings have been found. Arrangements are being made for a joint funeral to the four children lost to the ravages of the Rejang river.
I can only offer my condolences to the parents of the four lovely children (your heart will break like mine did if you see their photographs in the newspaper) and hope that in time their broken hearts will be able to heal from this.
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