KOTA KINABALU: The search area for an 18-month-old girl in Beaufort who went missing on Saturday has been expanded.
Jude Angel Jeremy initially could not be located in her house in Kampung Saliwangan Baru, Batu 66, where the front door was found ajar.
Authorities feared she could have drowned in a nearby river.
“The third day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation is divided into two groups – one along the river via boat from Batu 60 towards the Sungai Padas’ estuary, covering 63km.
“The second SAR team is searching for the girl along bushes and palm oil plantation with a 7km radius from the Fire and Rescue Department control post,” a department spokesperson said yesterday.
The latest victim was among three cases of missing children reported in Sabah over the weekend.
One of them was located safely in Tawau while another was found drowned.