MV Dayang Topaz Incident
Primary tabs
On Wednesday, 27th October 2020, an incident occured with the MV Dayang Topaz at around 6.45am in the morning off the shores of Baram, Miri.
According to news sources, the offshore support vessel - which was built in 2012 - had reportedly broke from its anchor during bad weather amid high waves and high winds, and drifted uncontrollably before colliding with the nearby Baram B oil platform, which resulted in heavy damage to both the platform and the ship, with the latter taking on water. The ship sent out a distress signal which prompted nearby ships to assist.
What happened during that was unclear, but most of the onboard numbering 125 had evacuated, abandoned, or simply just fell overboard from the ship during or after the collision and was scattered in the sea, which prompted an intense search and rescue operation.
The last of those drifting at sea was found at around 2pm in the afternoon that, but unfortunately the accident had taken two lives.
The company that owned the vessel later on reported that the vessel had not sunk (which was what had been initially reported), but was badly damaged by the accident.
Photos from the Maritime Department
Miri was bombed by U.S. B24 Bombers during World War II. Some video footage of the bombing.
Yu Lan Plaza is the first all-glass high rise building in Miri. It is located in the midst of the old Miri town area, located next to the Miri Old Open Air Market. From far, Yu Lan Plaza is an easily recognizable landmark.
Bahasa Sarawak, or Sarawak Language is a common language used by most Sarawakians. English is widely spoken and understood, along Mandarin & major chinese dialects. Miri is proud to boast racial harmony amongst a population of 2.1 million who adhere to a variety of traditions, practices and religions. Sarawak is secular.
Shinonome (東雲 ”Daybreak”) was the sixth of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. It had exploded and sank with all hands off the coast of Miri. 