LUMUT, May 13 — On day three of the operation, authorities expanded the search radius to 343 nautical square miles for seven Indonesian undocumented migrants still missing after a boat capsized off Pulau Pangkor. 

State Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director, Maritime Capt Mohamad Shukri Khotob, said the expanded area focuses on potential zones identified from earlier recoveries.

“Today’s search focuses north of Pulau Pangkor, based on evidence that victims drifted there. As of 2.30pm on day three, no bodies have been found.

But MMEA Perak, the Marine Police Force and Royal Malaysian Navy continue to intensify searches in designated sectors,” he told reporters at the Kampung Acheh Marine Police Jetty today.

Mohamad Shukri said sea currents pose a major challenge, potentially carrying victims far from where the boat capsized, adding that today’s search would continue until 7pm and resume tomorrow.

“Tomorrow’s operation will run from 7am to 7pm with the same assets, though we may expand the search area as needed,” he said.

To date, 30 victims have been located: 23 rescued alive and seven found dead over the three-day operation.

Yesterday, Perak MMEA reported rescuing 23 Indonesian migrants after their boat capsized off Pulau Pangkor near Lumut, on Monday.

The boat is believed to have been carrying 37 undocumented Indonesian migrants and was operated by a Myanmar crew.

It departed Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9 for Malaysia, believed to be heading to Penang, Terengganu, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

LUMUT, May 13 —  Four bodies were recovered in the waters off Pulau Pangkor today during the second day of a search and rescue operation for victims of a capsized boat carrying illegal immigrants.

Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director, Maritime Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob, said the bodies were spotted by the Marine Police Force (PPM) at 2 pm.

“Two PPM boats found the bodies floating some 13 nautical miles from Pulau Talang, near Segari.

“The deceased comprised three women and one man. All victims are believed to have drifted north with the current, roughly 10 nautical miles from the location where the boat was reported to have sunk,” he told a press conference at the Kampung Acheh PPM Jetty here today.

He said the total number of victims found is now 27, including 23 people rescued on the first day of the operation.

Mohamad Shukri said the search area has been expanded to find the remaining missing victims.

“Today’s search covers an area of 151 square nautical miles from the capsize site, located 8.2 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Pangkor.

“There are still 10 victims unaccounted for, and search efforts will continue with assets from the PPM and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN),” he said.

He said the bodies were brought to the Kampung Acheh PPM Jetty and then sent to Seri Manjung Hospital for further action.

Yesterday, Perak MMEA rescued 23 illegal immigrants, suspected to be Indonesian nationals, after their boat capsized in the waters of Pulau Pangkor.

Mohamad Shukri said the agency received a report at about 5.30 am from a local fisherman who spotted the victims floating at sea and requested immediate assistance.

Initial investigations revealed that 37 people were aboard the vessel. They are believed to have departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9, bound for various destinations in Malaysia, including Penang, Terengganu, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur. 

The SAR operation was suspended at 10pm and will resume at 7.30am today. — Bernama