MIRI: A large-scale search and rescue (SAR) operation is currently in progress to locate four fishermen who went missing after their boats capsized off Miri waters on Wednesday (July 19).
The missing victims are identified as 60-year-old Masni Jana, 43-year-old Zaidi Jana, 54-year-old Annuar Amin and 70-year-old Junaidi Jamin.
Two boats departed from a jetty in Pulau Melayu on July 18 at 8.30am and were expected to return by July 19 at 7am. Each boat was carrying three people heading towards Kampung Siwak in Bakam when strong waves caused the boats to capsize.
The first incident occurred off the Esplanade beach in Bakam, resulting in one man, Masni, going missing. He was on a boat with two other fishermen, who were rescued by fellow fishermen at about 8.6 nautical miles off Kuala Bakam.
Meanwhile, the second boat carrying Zaidi, Anuar, and Junaidi capsized near the Marina jetty, and all three have gone missing.
The Miri Civil Defence Force (APM) reported that the search, which entered its second day on Thursday (July 20), has covered a search area of 184.47 nautical miles.
Rescue agencies, including the Marine police, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), are actively involved in the search efforts.
The operation, led by Miri MMEA, is supported by Bomba for the sea search and the police with Miri APM for the land search from Bakam beach to Marina beach.
As of press time, the search is still ongoing, and the victims have yet to be found.
