5 dead, 32 missing after boat sinks off Malaysia

Source: AFP | June 18, 2014, Wednesday |

Online Edition

THIRTY-TWO people were missing on Wednesday and five were confirmed dead after an apparently overloaded boat carrying Indonesian illegal migrants headed home for Ramadan sank overnight in rough seas off western Malaysia.

Officials said 60 people were rescued or made it to land by themselves after the accident around midnight near Port Klang, Malaysia's largest port, as authorities intensify the search with nine ships and a helicopter.

"Thirty-two people are still missing. We have found five bodies comprising four men and one woman. They died due to drowning," said Mohamad Hambali Yaakup, head of the Port Klang office of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

"Rough seas are making our rescue operation difficult. But we will continue the search until the remaining 32 people are found," he said.

The boat sank not far from shore, raising hopes that many of the missing had made it to safety on their own, Mohamad Hambali added.

Officials believe 97 passengers were aboard the wooden boat, including some children.

World

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

5 dead, 32 missing after boat sinks off Malaysia

Email this to your friend