KUALA LUMPUR: At least 40 Indonesians including women and children went missing after their boat sank off Malaysia’s coast, while rescuers have begun searching for them.
Amran Daud, an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), said that several ships, speed-boats and helicopters have been deployed to the sea off the southern Johor state to search for the missing.
The boat that was reportedly carrying 44 passengers, including women and children, sank on Thursday night about three hours into its journey from Tanjung Sedili on Johor state’s east coast to Indonesia’s Batam Island.
Passing fishermen saved three of the survivors while another was rescued by the authorities.
“Only four of those on board were rescued by fishermen and MMEA after floating 15 hours in the sea,” Amran said, adding that “The condition of the boat was believed to be questionable.”
Amran noted that authorities in Malaysia have conducted an investigation into the cause of the incident.
