KUCHING: Four people drowned while six others are missing after the boat they were travelling in capsized off the coast of Belawai, in the Mukah Division, today.

A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations centre spokesman said seven others were reported safe in the incident, which occurred at about 2pm.

He said a team from the Tanjung Manis Fire and Rescue Station was deployed to the scene, located 22km away, after the department received a distress call at 2.11pm.

"Upon arrival at 3.12pm, the operations commander reported that a fibreglass boat carrying 17 passengers had capsized off the coast.

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"The bodies of the four victims who drowned were handed over to the police for further action," he said.

He added that search operations along the shoreline are currently underway, involving firefighters and rescue personnel, supported by a boat from the Sarawak Coast Guard.

"Fire personnel are still gathering information on all the victims from the surviving boat operator," he said.

The identities of the deceased and missing victims have yet to be determined at press time.