SEBUYAU: The search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate the remaining four crew members of cargo vessel MV Tung Sung in Pulau Burung waters is affected by poor weather and rough sea conditions today.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director First Admiral Zin Azman Md Yunus said as of 10.30 am, the weather was poor and the sea was slightly rough.
“Wind speeds recorded between 40km and 50km per hour and waves are about 2.5m to 4.5m high.
“Today’s operation covered an area of 150.03 square nautical miles, bringing the overall search area to 863.96 square nautical miles,” he said.
Some 83 rescuers from the Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG), the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Marine Police are involved in the search with six boats and ships.
As at press time, the remaining victims have yet to be found.
Eight crewmen went missing last Thursday (July 20) after the cargo ship transporting pebbles to Sibu from Kuching overturned and capsized in Pulau Burung waters.
Of the crewmen aged between 20 and 52, three of whom are locals from Sibu identified as Chieng Siew Ngiek, Wong Hua Wu and Stimba Chuit.
Four of them are Myanmar nationals, namely That Min July, Ye Lin Htet, Hla Win Tun and Tun Lin Oo, and an Indonesian named Lido Ali Purwanto.
Last Saturday (July 22), the authorities discovered four bodies suspected to be the MV Tung Sung crew members floating in the waters about 15 nautical miles northeast from Pulau Burung.
Three were taken to Sebuyau public jetty and the fourth was taken to the Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex Jetty (KOMTAS).
The bodies have not yet been identified and have been handed over to the police for further investigation.
