Bodies of 12 Langkawi boat capsize victims transferred to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for autopsy, bringing total deaths to 28 with 14 survivors rescued.
LANGKAWI: The bodies of 12 victims from the boat capsize incident in waters off the Malaysia-Thailand border were brought to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar this morning.
Langkawi district police chief ACP Khairul Azhar Nuruddin confirmed the victims comprised 10 men, a boy and a girl.
“Twelve bodies were sent to HSB last Tuesday, followed by another four at 3 pm yesterday,” he told reporters.
He added that post-mortem examinations for all previously sent bodies have been completed.
The 12 bodies transferred today are expected to undergo autopsies today and tomorrow.
With this transfer, no remains of boat tragedy victims remain at Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi.
Khairul Azhar said a meeting with state Islamic religious authorities will be held tomorrow to decide on burial arrangements.
Regarding the 14 survivors found safe, he confirmed they remain in police custody pending further investigation.
The 12 bodies were transported from HSM in a police truck to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Bukit Malut Jetty at 7.20 am.
They were then moved to Kuala Perlis by Marine Police Force boat before transfer to HSB.
Twenty-eight victims believed to be Rohingya ethnic group members have been found dead.
Another 14 have been rescued after a boat carrying an estimated 70 illegal immigrants capsized. – Bernama
