BOAT CAPSIZES IN TANJUNG SEGENTING, FOUR FISHERMEN STILL MISSING

BATU PAHAT, June 22 (Bernama) -- Four fishermen are still missing while another was found safe after their boat capsized approximately 6.8 nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Segenting yesterday.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director, maritime commander Mohd Hanis Mohd Yunus, stated that the boat capsized due to large waves around 6 am with five fishermen, aged between 43 and 63 years, onboard. 

He said that MMEA, through the Johor Bahru Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC), activated the search and rescue operation after receiving a report from the public about a local fishing boat sinking in the area.

"The fishing boat, carrying five crew members, went to sea to fish with nets, but rough weather and large waves caused it to capsize and sink.

“The Johor Bahru MRSC Johor Bahru activated the search and rescue operation at 9 am and dispatched the patrol boat Penggalang 30 from the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone," he said in a statement today.

Mohd Hanis explained that upon arriving at the location, they found the fishing boat almost completely submerged.

He said a 43-year-old fisherman was rescued by another fishing boat and brought to the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone Jetty before being taken to the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital for treatment.

“The search operation has been expanded with an increased radius of 23 square nautical miles.

“The Marine Police Force, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, and the Civil Defense Force are also assisting in the operation,” he added. 

-- BERNAMA