KOTA KINABALU: Five anglers who fell into the sea when their fishing boat capsized in waters off Pulau Nunuyan in Sandakan have been rescued.
The five men aged between 38 and 59 had gone fishing at around 6am on Sunday, and were on their way back to shore in the evening when strong waves overturned their boat.
Maritime officials were alerted about the incident at around 5.15pm.
Sandakan Maritime director Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said upon receiving the distress call, a response team was dispatched to search for and rescue the victims.
“The victims were quickly located, and they were rescued before being taken back to the Sandakan maritime jetty for further action,” he said, adding that all five of the victims survived with minor injuries.
The victims were transported to a waiting ambulance for further examination upon arriving at the jetty.
Suhairy advised boat operators and maritime communities to prioritise safety whenever they go out to sea, by ensuring that their boats are in good condition, their safety equipment is complete and functioning, and to monitor and assess weather conditions.
It was also important to take heed of weight limits on boats, he said, explaining that this would help balance the vessel.
He said maritime officials will always be prepared to face any eventualities and are committed to enhancing safety at sea.
“The public can contact us for any sea emergencies at 999 or call the Sandakan Maritime Operations Centre at 089-229504 for assistance,” said Suhairy.
Various parts of Sabah have been hit with thunderstorms and intermittent rains over the past week, and this condition is expected to continue for at least another week.
