Fire and Rescue personnel retrieving the bodies found yesterday. — Bernama photo
HUTAN MELINTANG: Another seven bodies of victims of a capsized boat in the waters off Sabak Bernam were found yesterday afternoon, bringing the total number of people killed in the tragedy to 24, all believed to be Indonesians.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Klang chief Mohd Aliyas Hamdan said the bodies of six women and a man were found by the search and rescue team about two hours after the recovery of three victims Thursday afternoon.
He said all the bodies arrived at the Hutan Melintang Jetty about 5.15pm.
All the bodies were found in the search and rescue area and have been sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun for a post-mortem,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.
Mohd Aliyas said the search and rescue area had been extended to 550 sq kms, involving seven ships including three from the navy.
“Small boats from the enforcement agencies including the Civil Defence Department and the fire department have helped us search and rescue the victims along the coastline,” he said.
So far, the bodies of 19 women and five men have been found while 20 more people including a woman, were saved after the boat which was carrying about 70 passengers capsized in the waters off Selangor on Thursday morning.
The search and rescue operations for the victims were stopped at 7pm and will resume today morning.
The 40-foot long boat capsized while on its way from Kuala Sungai Bernam to Tanjong Balai, Indonesia.
The incident occurred about nine nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Sauh. — Bernama