Search For Two Missing Fishermen Continues With Helicopter Search - MMEA

CHUKAI, June 13 (Bernama) -- The search and rescue operation (SAR) for two fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized during a storm in the waters of Kemaman near here on Wednesday continued today with the assistance of a helicopter.

Kemaman Maritime Zone director Abdul Halim Hamzah said the search for Azan Muda, 68, and Nordin Mohammad, 61, which entered its third day, was expanded to cover 127.1 nautical miles and focused on Kemaman waters till Kuala Terengganu.

"Operations today are conducted in good weather conditions with wind speeds of under 10 kilometres an hour and waves of less than 0.5 metres.

“A total of 57 people, including officers and personnel from the MMEA, police, Fire Dept and civilians are involved in the search,” he said in a statement today.

A Fire and Rescue Department AW139 helicopter was used for an air search today, along with two Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) boats, a police boat and two civilian boats, he added.

Azan and Nordin were in their fishing boat together with Mahadi Jusoh, 51, when it capsized during a storm shortly after midnight Wednesday. Mahadi was rescued by a passing fishing vessel at about 10.30 am later that day.

-- BERNAMA