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Tourists swimming at their own risk in <b>Kudat</b> | my Sarawak - News <b>...</b> Posted: 09 Aug 2011 06:43 PM PDT Posted on 10 August 2011. KUDAT: The authorities have been urged to provide adequate facilities to safeguard the life of tourists who come to visit the northern part of Sabah. DAP Kudat chief Alex Wong made the urgent call after a Korean university student drowned at the Kalampunian beach, Tg Simpang Mengayau here. According to him, this was the ninth drowning case in Kudat. Alex felt that the 18-year-old Korean, Hwang Jae Deok, could have been saved if there was a lifeguard on beach watch and life boat on stand by. Immediate life saving operation could bring the boy to safety and not being drowned. "At the Kalampunian beach, we cannot find any lifeguard and lifeboats station. Tourists who come to swim or surf in the sea here are taking their own risk. How can we treat our valued visitors like this?" Hwang was among a group of 32 Korean tourists who had visited the beautiful Simpang Mengayau beach not far from the famous 'Tip of Borneo' tourism spot. He went surfing there at 8.45am on August 6 and was later reported missing. His body was found on Monday morning and claimed by family members who flew in from Korea. According to a witness, Hwang, an university student in Seoul, was believed hit by a big wave and strong wind while surfing with a friend. Alex also said that the police outpost did not have life-saving facilities and he is unsure whether the boat they have is seaworthy. "They are the only persons available on site to save the people who are in trouble. The Fire and Rescue Service Department and other rescue units have to be called in case of emergencies. They are usually far from reach, and always arrived on site late," he said. "If the government is serious in promoting tourism in this beach, they should upgrade the facilities and allocate more funds and personnel to ensure the safety of the tourists. We cannot have any more mishap happening here in the future, or else our tourists will be frightened away," he added. Alex also suggested that the authorities set warning markers in the sea to warn swimmers about the strong underwater current which is near the beachfront. The big wave areas should be identified and highlighted on a notice board erected on the beach indicating the height of the waves and the specific location where the surfers can be hit hard and lost in the sea. There should also be a floating barricade to cordon off swimmers from drifting far into deep wavy sea. A safe swimming zone must be established for easy monitoring of swimmers' location and help in life-saving operation. A lifeguard tower should be built on the beach with lifeguards on stand by to keep a close watch over the swimmers, he added. |
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