The search and rescue (SAR) operation for victims of a capsized boat carrying undocumented migrants near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border has recovered five more bodies, bringing the total number of fatalities found in Malaysian waters to 12.
Kedah and Perlis Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral Romli Mustafa said 13 people have survived the tragedy so far.
The first body, believed to be that of a young boy, was discovered around 12.47pm about two nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Belua. Minutes later, a Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) patrol boat recovered the body of an adult man and handed it over to police at the MMEA jetty.
“Shortly after, the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) found a woman’s body three nautical miles northwest of Pulau Rebak Besar and transported it to the Harbour Park Jetty,” Romli said in a statement yesterday.
Later in the afternoon, the RMN vessel KD Ledang located another woman’s body, while the Marine Police recovered a man’s body, both of which were brought to Harbour Park Jetty for further action.
Romli added that the search area has been expanded to 255.66 square nautical miles and now involves coordinated efforts between the MMEA, RMN, Marine Police Force, JBPM, and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, supported by both sea and air assets.
Thai authorities had earlier confirmed discovering six bodies in their waters on Sunday.
The SAR operation was halted at 7.30pm yesterday due to rough sea conditions and nightfall, and will resume this morning. — Bernama
