Boat sinks off Sabak Bernam waters, 15 deaths confirmed

Fifteen deaths have been confirmed so far with the number expected to rise as search and rescue (SAR) operations continue following a boat capsize incident off Sabak Bernam waters.

The boat ferrying some 70 people, believed to be Indonesian illegal immigrants, capsized about nine nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Sauh reportedly around 5am today.

Klang district maritime enforcement chief, First Admiral Mohd Aliyas Hamdan said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) received a report at 10.37am from a fisherman who passed by the area.

The bodies were reportedly found near Hutan Melintang in Perak while there were 19 survivors have been rescued so far.

The bodies, along with the survivors, were then brought to the Sungai Sumun jetty.

According to Mohd Aliyas, the wooden "pom pom" boat, which measures about 40-50 feet in length, was heading towards Tanjung Balai in Indonesia from Sungai Kuala Bernam.

Meanwhile, Lumut district maritime 3 enforcement chief, Capt Zulinda Ramli, said the bodies were found in perfect condition.

Speaking to Astro AWANI late Thursday, she said she was present when the boat carrying both survivors and bodies, arrived at the Hutan Melintang jetty.

"The first boat that came had five people. One was in critical condition while the other four seemed to be okay.

"On the second boat, there was a female survivor and 13 male survivors. They were all okay, except for two or three who seemed to have suffered leg cramps," said Zulinda.

SAR operation updates as at 8pm Thursday

SABAK BERNAM SAR

A map showing the area of the SAR operations

SABAK BERNAM SAR

A MMEA official explaining the SAR operations to Press members at Sabak Bernam. - Astro AWANI/Shahir Omar

PHOTOS: Boat sinks off Sabak Bernam waters

Earlier, Klang district maritime operations chief, Mohd Faaiz Abu Samah had said about 200 MMEA and Royal Malaysian Navy personnel were deployed for the SAR operation.

He said four ships, four boats and a helicopter from MMEA, and three navy ships were utilised in the operation.

Indonesia's deputy ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, who was also present at the media conference, said the embassy had sent a special team to Hutan Melintang to obtain further information on the victims.