KOTA KINABALU: It was a sombre mood on Hari Raya Aidiladha for the family who lost their head and the severely burnt youngest child battling for life at the hospital.
Jafar Janidil, 61, and his son Mohamad Nasaruddin, 10, were among five victims who were involved in an explosion of petrol-laden boat in Kudat on Thursday.
The child’s elder sister Siti Murni, 23, said her mother had passed out three times while her husband was buried yesterday.
Her four other siblings were at Kudat to accompany the mother.
Another brother Mohd Saharuddin, 21, who was an odd job worker in Kuala Lumpur, had spent RM1,200 on a flight ticket to return here last night.
“My mother, 48, can accept the death of my father but not the condition of our youngest brother among nine siblings.
“Nasruddin’s body is swelling and he has received blood transfusion and wound dressing at the hospital this morning,” he said when met at the Likas Women and Children’s hospital here.
Siti said they were also informed by the hospital that the boy suffered 60 per cent burns and had to be sedated.
Before the boy was sedated, the sister said he was calling “ayah… ayah…” in a weak voice.
“He witnessed the incident including how our dad died on the boat.
“Luckily, our elder brother Mohd Kamarudin, 26, who sat on the front part of the boat rescued Nasaruddin promptly,” she said, adding her father had worked in delivering petrol supply to villagers at Banggi island for the past three months.
Kamarudin suffered minor injuries on his right foot.
Another critically burnt victim Azmain Nawali, 45, was at Queen Elizabeth hospital here while another Sahlan Ashadan, 27, had died.
On Wednesday night, the cargo boat was ferrying 10,000 litres of petrol from Kudat to Banggi island.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency spokesperson said initial investigation revealed that there was a leaking petrol drum when the boatmen were moving the loads.
“The petrol could have flown into the engine room and caused the explosion.
“The engine of the boat was still running when they unload those items,” he said, adding the case was being investigated by police.
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