Indonesians missing after illegal migrant ship capsizes off Malaysian coast

Indonesians missing after illegal migrant ship capsizes off Malaysian coast

2011-06-01 20:48:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (BNO NEWS) -- Several Indonesian illegal migrants have been reported missing after their boat capsized off the southern Malaysian coast, local media reported Wednesday.

The boat sank at around 4:30 a.m. local time in the Tanjung Ayam waters, Pengerang, which is located in Malaysia's southern state of Johor, Bernama news agency reported.

Personnel from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Southern Region, were able to rescue a number of victims, while merchant ship MV Huo Tuo, which was in the area when the incident occurred, was also able to aid some of the victims.

According to reports, a total of 17 people have been rescued, but it is still uncertain how many people were on the boat and how many remain missing. Authorities believe that some 30 people were aboard when the boat sank, while reports say that at least 7 and up to 13 people are still missing.

Malaysia's Pangerang waters are common immigrant routes as it only takes around 30 minutes on a speed boat to travel from Indonesia's Batam Island to Malaysia's Johor state.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-01