Related News

Home » World

5 dead, 32 missing after boat sinks off Malaysia

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.




 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend