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LANGKAWI: The fourth day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation for victims of the boat tragedy in waters off the Malaysia-Thailand border saw two more bodies recovered on Wednesday (Nov 12) morning.
The discovery brings the death toll to 22, while 14 survivors have been found safe.
Kedah and Perlis Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral (Maritime) Romli Mustafa said the Marine Police Force discovered a man’s body floating near Pulau Singa Besar at 10.10am.
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"The body was taken to the MMEA Jetty and handed over to the police for further action.
"Shortly afterwards, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department reported the discovery of another man’s body in Selat Chincin near Pulau Anak Datai.
"The body was taken to the Kubang Badak Jetty and handed over to the police,” he said in a statement.
First Adm Romli said the operation, which resumed at 7.30am, had been expanded to cover an area of 329.67 square nautical miles, divided into 14 search sectors.
"The MMEA, together with all agencies involved, will continue the search efforts and provide updates from time to time until the operation is fully concluded,” he said.
A total of 200 personnel from various agencies are involved in the operation, supported by 14 assets from the MMEA, Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Malaysian Navy, Fire and Rescue Department, Marine Police, and Malaysian Civil Defence Force.
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According to earlier reports, a large vessel carrying some 300 people had set off from the town of Buthidaung in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
The passengers were believed to have been split up among three smaller boats once the vessel neared Malaysia.
One of the boats, carrying about 70 people, was believed to have sunk near Tarutao Island in southern Thailand on Thursday (Nov 6). – Bernama
