Death toll rises in Pulau Pangkor migrant boat tragedy after rescuers recover four bodies, 10 still missing

“LUMUT, May 13 — Four bodies were recovered in the waters off Pulau Pangkor today during the second day of a search and rescue operation for victims of a capsized boat carrying illegal immigrants. Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director, Maritime Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob, said the bodies were spotted by the Marine Police Force (PPM) at 2 pm. “Two PPM boats found the bodies floating some 13 nautical miles from Pulau Talang, near Segari. “The deceased comprised three women and one man. All victims are believed to have drifted north with the current, roughly 10 nautical miles from the location where the boat was reported to have sunk,” he told a press conference at the Kampung Acheh PPM Jetty here today. He said the total number of victims found is now 27, including 23 people rescued on the first day of the operation. Mohamad Shukri said the search area has been expanded to find the remaining missing victims. “Today’s search covers an area of 151 square nautical miles from the capsize site, located 8.2 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Pangkor. “There are still 10 victims unaccounted for, and search efforts will continue with assets from the PPM and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN),” he said. He said the bodies were brought to the Kampung Acheh PPM Jetty and then sent to Seri Manjung Hospital for further action. Yesterday, Perak MMEA rescued 23 illegal immigrants, suspected to be Indonesian nationals, after their boat capsized in the waters of Pulau Pangkor. Mohamad Shukri said the agency received a report at about 5.30 am from a local fisherman who spotted the victims floating at sea and requested immediate assistance. Initial investigations revealed that 37 people were aboard the vessel. They are believed to have departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9, bound for various destinations in Malaysia, including Penang, Terengganu, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur. The SAR operation was suspended at 10pm and will resume at 7.30am today. — Bernama

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