Tg Balau boat tragedy: Another eight bodies found, 17 still missing

KOTA TINGGI: Another eight bodies have been found by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), bringing the total number of recorded deaths to 19, following the capsized boat incident in Tanjung Balau, here.

Johor MMEA deputy director (operations) Maritime Capt Simon Templer Lo Tusa said the eight deceased consisted of six men and two women, with 17 others still missing.

"As of now, the total number of victims that have been found is 33, of whom 19 are dead, and the remaining 14 survivors have been treated and handed over to the Immigration Department for further action," he said.

"The bodies have been brought to Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) for further action," added Capt Simon in a statement here on Thursday (Dec 16).

He said that the sea Search and Rescue (SAR) operation is expected to be postponed at 7pm and will be resumed by a SAR operation near the shoreline during the night.

He also informed that the second day of SAR covered about 147 nautical miles (272km) of Tanjung Balau water areas using MMEA assets such as KM TEGAS and PETIR 50 boats.

Capt Simon added that the MMEA has also deployed its AW 139 helicopters and covered an area of about 76 nautical miles (140km).

He also informed that the second day of SAR involved 133 personnel and officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), police, marine police, fire and rescue department, civil defence force, and the Health Ministry.

On Wednesday (Dec 15), the bodies of 11 Indonesian nationals were found along the Tanjung Balau beach after the boat they were on capsized due to high waves during bad weather early in the morning.

So far, only 14 victims have survived the incident.

The boat was reportedly carrying 50 undocumented migrants from Batam and Lombok, Indonesia, and the SAR is still ongoing to find the remaining passengers.