After Eid Fitr Holidays, Four Indonesian Dead in Johor Boat Mishap

JOHOR - Four Indonesians including three women died while 33 others were saved when their boat capsized at about 80m from the shores of Pantai Batu Layar, Johor.

Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operation commander Azlan Mohd Sobri said that three officers from the Bandar Penawar station were deployed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 11.07pm Saturday before a search and rescue operation was launched.

"Based on the information that we have, the boat had 37 passengers, all Indonesians, including 25 men and eight women," he said in a statement on Sunday.

He added that 29 army personnel, 12 police officers, and three hospital staff members as well as officers from the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency were roped in to assist in the operation.

Johor Immigration Department director Rohaizi Ibrahim said the mishap occurred between 8pm and 9pm on Saturday.

"Initial investigations revealed that the group was attempting to sneak out of the country via a non-gazetted route in a bot pancung (rickety boat).

"The group had climbed the boat at around 7pm last night but were struck by waves as high as two metres that caused the boat to capsize," Rohaizi told reporters.

He added that the 34 survivors, aged between 25 year and 41, were handed over to the department around 7am Sunday for further investigations and action.

"The villagers rushed to the rescue of the victims before handing over some of them when the authorities arrived," Rohaizi said, adding that a search and rescue operation was ongoing to locate 21 others lost at sea.

Earlier, the Fire and Rescue Department issued a statement on the mishap, saying that four from the group including three women had drowned in the tragedy.

The authorities have yet to determine if the boat was trying to sneak in or out of the country after the Hari Raya/ Eid Fitr holidays.