Search continues on Day 5 for missing five after migrant boat sinks near Pulau Pangkor, death toll now nine

“IPOH, May 15 — Another body of a victim from the boat carrying Indonesian illegal immigrants that sank in the waters off Pulau Pangkor was found this evening, bringing the death toll so far to nine. The Perak branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), in a statement, said the male victim’s body was discovered by Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) asset, KD Sri Indera Sakti. “The ninth body was found at a position 4.5 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Pangkor at about 5.31pm yesterday. “The body was later handed over to the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Fast Combat Boat (FCB) 1002 at 6.25 m for further action,” the statement said. The statement added that the fourth day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation continued with efforts focused on the area where victims’ bodies were found on the second day of the operation. “The search for victims on the fourth day focused on seven sectors covering 219.01 square nautical miles. “The operation, which began at 7 am today, involved air and sea assets from the MMEA, RMN and the Marine Police Force (PPM),” it said. In the incident early last Monday morning, a boat believed to be carrying 37 Indonesian illegal immigrants capsized in the waters off Pulau Pangkor while en route to Malaysia. So far, 23 victims have been rescued while efforts to locate the remaining five missing victims will continue today. — Bernama

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