Couple drifts from Sandakan to the Philippines after boat runs out of fuel

Md Asibih Tamang (seated left) and his wife Fatima Ulo (right) being transported to safety by the MMEA.

KOTA KINABALU: An elderly couple from Sabah drifted all the way into Philippines waters after their boat ran out of fuel.

Asibih Tamang, 73, and his wife Fatima Ulo, 65, were travelling from Kampung Batu Putih to their daughter's house in Kampung Terusan Sugut, located some 41 nautical miles away and takes about two hours by boat.

The couple had headed out to sea at about 8am on Sunday (Oct 29) but did not show up and their son in-law contacted the coast guard.

Sandakan MMEA director Capt Zainuddin Mohd Zuki said they activated a search and rescue operation at 6.30pm the same day.

However, he said they called off the operation after getting in contact with the couple who said they were safe and had landed at Mapun Island in the Philippines on Monday (Oct 30).

Zainuddin added that some fishermen came to their rescue and subsequently handed the couple over to the MMEA near Tanjung Pamaguan in Malaysia on Tuesday (Oct 31).

"The couple was then brought to the Sandakan MMEA jetty and returned safely to their family," he said on Wednesday (Nov 1).