Two dead, 19 feared drown as another boat capsized

Two people died and 19 others are feared drowned after a boat with 80 Indonesian illegal immigrants reportedly capsized off Tanjung Piai near Pontian early today.

The dead, a man and a woman, were among 61 people pulled out of the water by fire and rescue personnel, said Johor assistant director of fire and rescue operations Mohd Rizal Buang.

Ten others were injured and sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, he said, adding that the 49 others were safe.

Mohd Rizal said 20 fire and rescue personnel were continuing to search for the remaining passengers of the boat.

He said the fire and rescue service was alerted at 1.33 am of the boat mishap which occurred three nautical miles off Pulau Pisang.

The boat had collided with a vessel of the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency that was engaged in an "Ops Tumpas" operation, he said.