Nine bodies found after boat capsizes off Mersing

Nine bodies were found washed up on shore here today after a boat with 40 people believed to be illegal immigrants from Batam, Indonesia, capsized in the waters of Tanjung Rhu near here, police said.

Mersing Police chief DSP Cyril Edwang Nuing said the bodies of the three men and six women were found on the beach.

The boat is believed to have capsized at about 4am after being hit by strong waves, he said to reporters here.

Cyril said two people - a man and woman aged 28 and 20 respectively - were found alive.

"We believe there are other survivors but they must have gone into hiding," he said.

Cyril said the two survivors were sent to the Tenggaroh Health Clinic for treatment.

He said the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency and Malaysian Armed Forces had launched a joint search-and-rescue operation. -BERNAMA