Kemaman authorities press on with search for two missing fishermen after boat sank during storm, with no new leads found on day four.
CHUKAI: Two fishermen remain missing after their boat sank during a storm 27.9 nautical miles off Kemaman on Wednesday, as search and rescue (SAR) operations entered a fourth day.
Kemaman Maritime Zone director, Maritime Commander Abdul Halim Hamzah, said the search today covered 224.40 square nautical miles, but no new leads were found.
He said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deployed the KM Redang vessel, while the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) used an AW139 helicopter.
“The operation is assisted by three local fishing boats around the incident site. A total of 49 personnel from the MMEA, JBPM, and local fishermen are involved in the SAR operation,” he said in a statement today.
In the Wednesday incident, a fishing boat operated by skipper Azan Muda, 68, with crew members Nordin Mohammad, 61, and Mahadi Jusoh, 51, sank during a storm at 12.30 am.
Nordin’s son, Muhammad Idham Hafiz, 23, said the family remains hopeful that his father and Azan will be found safe.
Mahadi was rescued by other fishermen in Kemaman waters at 10.30 am on Thursday.
