SAR for victims of boat mishap to continue after seven days

The search and rescue operation for victims in a boat which capsized in Sungai Hitam will continue even after the seven-day operation period, as stated in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), is over.

Klang Maritime Enforcement head Captain Mohd Aliyas Hamdan said this followed the discovery of a body at Beacon Air Gila in Sepang today.

"We expect to find more bodies after this. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will continue with the search although the time left for the search at Sungai Air Hitam is two days and three days in waters off Sepang," he told the media at the Kampung Kelanang jetty here today.

He said MMEA would discuss with the various agencies, including the police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Civil Defence Department, before conducting the search.

"When all the agencies involved decide there will be no more victims to be found, only then we will decide to stop the search and rescue operation," he added.

In the tragedy on Tuesday, a boat was ferrying 97 passengers about 11pm, only to capsize an hour later.

So far, 63 people are safe, comprising 50 men, 12 women and a girl. Twenty others are still missing.