FIVE of the 14 villagers who went missing in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan on June 21 have been found safe.

Kinabatangan police chief Supt A. Sahak Rahmat said rescuers found the five at a plantation at 10.15 this morning.

The group of five had gone fishing at Sungai Bilong but did not come home. A team of nine went looking for them but they too went missing.

A search and rescue operation was then launched for the 14. Around 80 people comprising police personnel, villagers, firemen and forest rangers were involved.

The search for the remaining nine is continuing.

Two 4-wheel-drive vehicles, believed to have been used by the missing group, were found at the edge of the forest reserve, Sahak said.

Plastic packets and empty cigarette boxes where also found but there were no signs of the missing villagers aged between 20 and 58. – June 27, 2017.