Five more bodies from the longboat tragedy yesterday at Sungai Kemena, Bintulu, about 600km from Kuching, were recovered today bringing to seven of eight passengers accounted for.

A fire and rescue spokesperson said the remains located between 7.09am and 11.05am, were identified to be those of Zunai ak Anjan, 45, Stanley ak Tony, nine, Diana ak Embuas, 13, Adreyna Liz ak Lakin, 10, and Ganing ak Mat, in his 60s.

Yesterday at 4.50pm, villagers retrieved the body of Jaba ak Lembang, 63.

The spokesperson said the search and rescue operation led by Bintulu Fire and Rescue chief Di Hata Gobel had been stepped up to find the last victim, aged eight.

In the incident at around 2.30pm yesterday, the boat engine was believed to have malfunctioned and could not be switched off before the vessel hit a barge which was repairing another vessel at the riverbank.

The longboat was thrust under the barge and only one of the passengers, Johnnie Ganeng, 31, managed to escape and seek help from nearby residents.

- Bernama