MUKAH: One of the missing anglers was found dead while, eight others have been found safe following a fishing boat capsizing incident in Mukah waters on Tuesday (Sept 20).
Civil Defence Force (APM) Mukah chief Captain Zuriza Sharkawi said the search and rescue (SAR) operation is still being carried out to find the remaining two missing victims.
So far, a body has been found while eight have been found safe
She added that the first two individuals were found by MT Cappela on Wednesday (Sept 21) while, four individuals were found safe by a local fishing boat whereas the body was found together with two more individuals by Himajaya 7 rescuers.
Earlier, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Zone director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Kuching have received a report pertaining to the incident around 9pm on Wednesday (Sept 21).
The capsizing incident involving a boat carrying 11 passengers including the skipper and anglers, happened around 8.30pm on Tuesday, some 34 nautical miles from the northwest of Mukah.
“According to the first two survivors, they departed from Penakub jetty, Mukah on Sept 19 to fish in the sea,” he said.
A search and rescue (SAR) forward base have been set up at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Mukah jetty with various agencies and their assets participating in the operation.
The first day of the search sector was 78.40 square miles with waves around 1.0 to 1.5-meter high and wind speed of 20 to 30km per hour.
As at press time, the remaining victims are still not found.
