[BREAKING] Up to 40 Indonesians Feared Dead as Boat Sinks off Malaysia
About 40 Indonesians believed to be illegal immigrants seeking to return home are missing after a boat carrying them sank off the coast of Malaysia.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Aug 2013, 01:26 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
At least 40 Indonesian missing as boat sinks off Malaysia ahead of Muslim celebration
Forty Indonesians - including women and children - are feared dead today after a boat carrying them sank off the coast of Malaysia, a maritime official
said.
thetimes.co.uk
The boat, thought to be carrying 44 people, sank on Thursday night off southern Johor state, said Amran Daud, an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), adding four were rescued on Friday.
hindustantimes.comTwo ships, four speedboats and two helicopters have been dispatched to scour the sea off southern Johor state to look for the missing, said Amran Daud, an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
google.comThe coast guard, police and fishermen rescued eight survivors since the boat capsized in rough waves off Malaysia’s southern Johor state around midnight Friday, a Johor district police official said
The boat was heading to Indonesia's Batam island when it sank in rough seas about three hours after it left shore, Amran said. "The condition of the boat was believed to be questionable"
hindustantimes.comIt was the second recent maritime accident involving Indonesians in Johor state’s waters. At least one woman drowned and 27 were rescued when another boat sank July 18.
The four men rescued from a boat that sank off the coast of Malaysia
In this Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 photo released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, survivors of an overturned boat sit at the Maritime office after being rescued in Tanjung Sedili, Johor state, southern Malaysia. The boat carrying 40 Indonesians believed to be illegal immigrants seeking to return home sank off the coast of Malaysia, a Maritime official said on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013.
Image via imgur.comBoating accidents off Malaysia's coast are a common occurrence
Boating accidents off Malaysia's coast are common as thousands of people from poorer regional neighbours, such as Indonesia and Myanmar, risk journeys in rickety boats to come to work illegally in the relatively affluent country.
google.comThey fill low-paying jobs shunned by locals on plantations, construction sites and in factories. Staying in Malaysia illegally is punishable by jail and caning for men.
Many Indonesians try to leave the country furtively during Ramadan to return home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Islamic fasting month. Authorities said last month they were beefing up patrols.
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