KOTA KINABALU: Six Filipinos rescued after their vessel sank were handed over to Philippine authorities by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at the maritime border on Monday (March 17).
Sandakan Maritime Zone director Maritime Capt Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said they received reports from Sandakan Port Control and Taganak Port Control about a vessel sinking outside Sandakan port limits at 7.30pm on Sunday (March 16).
“A rescue operation was immediately launched by deploying a Halilintar-class vessel to the scene.
"The vessel arrived at 9pm and rescued six victims, five adults and one child aged 11 to 45, all of whom are Filipino nationals,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (March 19).
He added that the victims were taken to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty at 11.30pm for medical treatment and further action.
Following bilateral discussions, he said MMEA coordinated with Philippine authorities, including the Coast Guard and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, to facilitate the handover of the victims at the maritime border.
The handover was conducted at 10.30am on Monday, Maritime Capt Suhairy added.
