A four-year-old boy was feared drowned while nine others were safe after the boat they were in capsized in Sungai Labuk near Kampung Melapi, about 150km from Sandakan yesterday.

The boy, who had yet to be identified, was in the boat with the other nine to fish.

Sandakan fire and rescue station chief Mohd Razali Awang Ahmad said they received a distress call at 4.14pm and despatched five firemen in a fire engine to the scene.

The firemen only got there at about 6.30pm because of the distance and could not conduct a search because it was already dark, he told Bernama today.

Initial report showed that there were 10 people, including four children, in the boat when it capsized after being beaten by strong currents.

Except for the boy, the others, including the helmsman, managed to swim ashore.

He said the search for the boy, which included the scuba unit, was underway.

- Bernama