Dozens feared dead after wooden boat carrying illegal immigrants sinks off Malaysia coastGoogle Maps
Dozens of people are feared dead after a boat carrying 97 illegal immigrants capsized off Banting town in Malaysia. Rescue efforts are on.
Up to 55 people including two children and 12 women have been rescued by local fishermen and emergency officials after the wooden boat sank off the Malaysian coast.
Unverified local reports claim the boat, which is not fit for a sea voyage, did not capsize but a leak in it caused the tragedy, which took place at about midnight local time.
The Banting Fire and Rescue department received a distress call shortly after, following which a search and rescue team was deployed.
The travellers are thought to be heading to Aceh, Indonesia from Malaysia and reportedly do not have any valid documents. All those on board are believed to be Indonesians.
"MMEA [Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency] have sent a ship, three boats and a helicopter to the location involving 35 officers and personnel and we are also assisted by other enforcement authorities including the Fire and Rescue Department, marine police and Civil Defence Department," said the agency's operations director Ibrahim Mohamed.
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