Tanjung Siang: Search and rescue ops for victims of capsized continue

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) continued the search for victims of the boat that sank near Tanjung Siang, Kota Tinggi, on Thursday as early as 7am this morning.

Tanjung Sedili District Maritime Enforcement Head, Maritime Commander Amran Daud said 35 of his personnel participated in the operation which aslo involved the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

"The operation will continue until 7pm today and will be resumed at 7am tomorrow if all the victims have not been found," he said when contacted by Bernama, here today.

So far, only four of the passengers of the ill-fated boat had been rescued and the search and rescue for the remaining 40 passengers were ongoing, he said.

In the incident that occurred late Thursday night, a boat believed to be carrying 44 Indonesian illegal immigrants to Batam to celebrate Aidilfitri sank in the waters between Sedili and Batam near Tanjung Siang, Kota Tinggi after being hit by strong waves.

They were earlier believed to have departed from Tanjung Siang.