35 persons still missing in boat mishap in Malaysia

Malaysian Officials on Wednesday, said over 35 persons were still missing after a boat carrying 97 foreigners sank near Sungai Air Hitam off the western coast of Malaysia.

However, reports say two persons had been confirmed dead and 60 rescued.

The Head of the Port Klang Office of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Mohamad Yaakup said those that were rescued included 47 men, 12 women and one child.

“The two dead include one man and one woman,’’ the official said.

According to preliminary investigation and interviews by officials of some of the rescued victims, all the passengers are Indonesian nationals.

The official said that the accident happened at about 12:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, when it was windy and the waters were tough, adding that the boat sank near the shore.

Mohamad said that 10 boats, one helicopter and 91 personnel had been dispatched for the search and rescue operation. (Xinhua/NAN)