Massive search underway after boat capsizes off Johor

A massive search is underway in a six square nautical mile area between Tanjung Pelepas and Tanjung Piai for 19 people feared drowned after a boat carrying 80 Indonesians capsized off Tanjung Piai near Pontian early Tuesday.

Johor assistant director of fire and rescue operations, Mohd Rizal Buang said the search was jointly mounted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department and Marine Department.

"The Fire and Rescue Department has been assigned an area about two nautical miles off Tanjung Pelepas. We are waiting for the low tide at 4.30 pm to deploy five boats until 7 pm," he said.

Two people died and 19 others are feared drowned after the boat with 80 Indonesian illegal immigrants capsized at about 1.30 am.

The dead, a man and a woman, were among 61 people pulled out of the water by fire and rescue personnel after the boat collided with a vessel of the MMEA engaged in an 'Ops Tumpas' operation.