JOHOR BAHARU: A woman died and seven others are feared missing when a boat, carrying 35 Indonesian nationals, capsized in waters of Tanjung Sedili Besar, Kota Tinggi, on Thursday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) operations director, Commander Mustapa Kamal Abas, said the boat, on its way to Batam, Indonesia, was believed to have capsized at 3am.
He said a tanker passing the area, MT Octaden, helped to rescue 28 of the passengers from the capsized boat before informing the MMEA Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) of the incident.
The woman who died was among the 28 people, comprising 24 men, three women and a eight-month-old baby boy, rescued by the tanker and she died on arrival at the Tanjung Sedili jetty, he said in a statement issued here yesterday.
He said the Indonesian nationals were believed to be heading back to the villages for the Aidilfitri coming celebration.
Their boat was believed to have experienced engine problem and capsized when it was hit by huge waves, he added.
He said the MMEA was still searching for the seven missing passengers from the ill-fated boat. — Bernama