Banting boat tragedy: Death toll increases to 14, 63 rescued and 20 still missing

The number of casualties in the Sungai Air Hitam boat tragedy on Tuesday, increased to 14 after three more bodies were found near Pantai Morib, Carey Island and Port Klang at 5pm and 6.30pm yesterday.

Kuala Langat District Police Chief Supt Azman Abdul Razak said the bodies of two men was found floating near Pantai Morib and Carey Island but no identification documents were found on them.

The latest was the body of a man that was found near West Port.

"The 14 dead comprised 11 men and three women. The search for another 20 reported missing will go on," he told reporters here yesterday.

Today a 34-year-old woman was found safe in Tanjung Sepat but 20 victims are still missing.

So far 63 passengers have been found or rescued. He said 97 is a rough estimate and the number could be less or more, and all victims have no valid travel documents while some had expired visit passes.

On Tuesday, a boat ferrying 97 passengers was heading to Tanjung Balai, Indonesia from the Sungai Judah Jetty in Carey Island at 11pm but capsized an hour later.

He added that the number of victims rescued was high but they may attempt to flee to avoid being arrested by authorities.

Regarding a boat tragedy at Beacon Api Gila in Sepang this morning, just 24 hours after the incident in Sungai Air Hitam yesterday, he said they plan to implement a more comprehensive procedure to avoid such incidents from recurring.