The death toll in the Langkawi boat capsize has risen to seven after six more bodies were found, with 13 survivors rescued so far as search efforts continue.
LANGKAWI: Six more bodies of migrants, including a girl, were found floating in Langkawi waters today, believed to be from a boat that capsized yesterday along the Malaysia-Thai maritime border.
Kedah and Perlis Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency director First Admiral Romli Mustafa said the discovery brings the total number of migrant deaths to seven, with 13 migrants now safe including three found today.
“At 3.11 pm, the Langkawi Maritim Rescue Sub Centre received a call about two men floating in the Kuala Muda Teriang area who were subsequently rescued by local fishing boats,” he said in a statement.
At 5 pm, an MMEA boat found the body of a girl while at 6.01 pm a Fisheries Department boat found a man who was alive and floating at sea.
Five more bodies of women were found at two separate locations before all were handed over to the police for further action.
The search and rescue operation has been expanded to cover 170 square nautical miles but was suspended at 7 pm today and will resume tomorrow morning.
The capsized boat was one of three vessels allegedly carrying about 300 migrants that overturned off Pulau Tarutao. – Bernama
