Sea search for missing tourists and boatman continues

Survivors being treated upon their arrival in Kota Kinabalu. - Bernama pic

KOTA KINABALU: Rescuers are still searching for five missing Chinese tourists and a local boatman who were among 31 people who fell into the sea when their catamaran sank on the way to Mengalum Island.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency public relations officer Maritime Lt Awil Kamsari said the rescue operation, which also included the navy and marine police, continued at about 7am Monday.

The missing six are Sheng Jiang Jiang, 50, Dong Mei, Li Qun, Luo Hong Yuan, 51, and Lu Guang Hang, 25, and local crew member Absoy Kasim, he said in a statement here.

Three tourists died in the incident.

The deceased have been identified as He Run Yuan, 46, Zhang Xiao Kun and Xie Luo, 48.

The catamaran with 31 people on board – 28 Chinese nationals and three crew members – sank at about 10am Saturday after departing the Tanjung Aru jetty an hour earlier.

Chinese consul-general in Sabah Chen Peijie said earlier that family members of some of the tourists have arrived while others are still on their way here.

“Arrangements have been made to help the victims and their families,” she said.

Chen said she was optimistic over the fate of the missing tourists and hoped the authorities would not give up on the search.

Meanwhile, the media were not allowed to speak to any of the victims, while families of the deceased who arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here refused to answer questions and asked for their privacy to be respected.