Two more bodies found from capsized boat in Mersing

Two more bodies were found today, bringing to 12 the number of victims of a capsized boat in the waters of Tanjung Rhu, here, yesterday.

Mersing district police chief, DSP Cyril Edward Nuing said as at noon today, the bodies of two men were found without identity documents, by a search-and- rescue (SAR) team at Tanjung Leman beach, here. The bodies were sent to Mersing Hospital.

He said the SAR operation involving the police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Civil Defence Force and Malaysian Armed Forces started at 8am today after being halted yesterday evening due to rain and strong waves.

In the incident about 4am yesterday, a boat believed to be carrying 40 people from Batam, Indonesia, tried to enter Malaysia before it capsized after being hit by strong waves.

The bodies of 10 foreign nationals, four men and six women, were found on the beach yesterday.

However, another two victims, a man and a woman, aged 28 and 20 years, respectively were found safe.- BERNAMA