Kuala Belait - The body of a woman was found in the Belait River yesterday afternoon, believed to be the wife of a man who is still missing after the duo who set out on a fishing trip Tuesday morning did not return until late in the night.

The couple was last seen at the riverside near the old longhouse along the Belait River.

Upon receiving an emergency call from the public Tuesday afternoon, a search party comprising Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Marine Police diving unit and personnel from Belait Police Station, Belait Fire Station and diving unit as well as Belait Public Works Department (PWD) was rushed to the scene.

A command post was set up near the Mumong Water Treatment Plant to coordinate the search operation. Several rescue boats were also seen conducting a search.

According to the police yesterday, the couple went for a fishing trip Tuesday morning and did not return until 10.30pm (Tuesday) which prompted family members to alert search and rescue personnel.

The police said two foreigners found the woman's body near Ujung Tanjong at around 4pm yesterday. At 7.45pm, search operations were continuing to find the missing man.

A friend of the missing when interviewed said, "We went fishing together at a section of the Belait River on Monday afternoon around 4pm. When we were heading home suddenly they.turned back to return to their fishing spot. We arrived at the jetty and waited for them but we grew suspicious when they failed to return."

Motorists travelling along the Mumong bypass have been advised to drive cautiously as the RBPF has placed traffic cones near the entrance to the Mumong Water Treatment Plant for access to emergency vehicles involved in the operation.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin