14 dead after migrant boat sinks off Malayisa

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: At least 14 migrants drowned Thursday after an overcrowded boat carrying up to 100 people sank off the coast of Malaysia.
Rescuers were searching for dozens of Indonesians still missing hours after their small wooden vessel disappeared beneath the waves.
“Local fishermen have rescued 15 people and fished out from the sea 14 bodies -- 13 women and one man,” Mohamad Aliyas Hamdan, the local head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told AFP.
“We have deployed 12 ships and a plane along with some 200 officers to carry out the search and rescue operation for the remaining victims,” he said.
Around two million people, mostly from Indonesia, work in Malaysia illegally, regularly crossing the narrow strip of water between the two countries in barely seaworthy vessels.
The vessel went down in choppy waters off Malaysia’s western coast near the coastal town of Sabak Bernam in central Selangor state.
“I believe the boat sank because of bad weather and it was overcrowded,” Aliyas said.
Based on the size of the boat, it could have been carrying about 70 people but local fishermen said there could have been up to 100 migrants on board, he added.
“We have deployed 12 ships and a plane along with some 200 officers to carry out the search and rescue operation for the remaining victims,” he said.

14 dead after migrant boat sinks off Malayisa

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: At least 14 migrants drowned Thursday after an overcrowded boat carrying up to 100 people sank off the coast of Malaysia. Rescuers were searching for dozens of Indonesians still missing hours after their small wooden vessel disappeared beneath the waves. Local fishermen have rescued 15 people and fished out from the sea 14 bodies -- 13 women and one man, Mohamad Aliyas Hamdan, the local head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told AFP. We have deployed 12 ships and a plane along with some 200 officers to carry out the search and rescue operation for the remaining victims, he said. Around two million people, mostly from Indonesia, work in Malaysia illegally, regularly crossing the narrow strip of water between the two countries in barely seaworthy vessels. The vessel went down in choppy waters off Malaysias western coast near the coastal town of Sabak Bernam in central Selangor state. I believe the boat sank because of bad weather and it was overcrowded, Aliyas said. Based on the size of the boat, it could have been carrying about 70 people but local fishermen said there could have been up to 100 migrants on board, he added. We have deployed 12 ships and a plane along with some 200 officers to carry out the search and rescue operation for the remaining victims, he said.