BINTULU: A search has been mounted for a boat crewman reported missing in the waters of Samalaju, here.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said Indian national Himanshu Kumar went missing after the boat was in capsized around 40.2 nautical miles northwest of Bintulu on Saturday morning.
Three other crew members were rescued by a nearby boat, he said.
“According to the victims, their ship was hit by a storm while anchored in the waters of Samalaju, at about 2am, causing it to sink.
“Three victims, two locals including the captain and one Indian national managed to get on the life raft but another crew member drifted away,” he said in a statement here.
As search operations entered day two today, Mohd Khairol said no oil spill or debris was spotted at the location where the boat reportedly capsized.
“The air search today was conducted by the Bomba Air Unit using a MI171 helicopter involving a search area of 183.60 square nautical miles, while MMEA vessel KM Setia searched the waters of Samalaju involving 336.19 square nautical miles,” he said.
“Other maritime assets as well as oil platforms near the search area have also been notified to be on alert (for the missing man),” he said.
