LANGKAWI, Nov 10 — Six more bodies believed to be victims of a capsized boat were found in waters near the Thailand-Malaysia border off Langkawi yesterday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Kedah and Perlis director Maritime First Admiral Romli Mustafa, said the bodies, believed to be victims of the same incident, were found by the Thai authorities.
The discovery brings the total number of victims found so far to 26, comprising 13 survivors and 13 deceased.
“We expect to discover more victims today, as sea current patterns in the search area indicate that they are drifting towards Malaysian waters,” he told the press today.
Romli added that the search and rescue operation continued today, with the search sector radius expanded to more than 250 square nautical miles, and involved assets from various agencies.
The search area is expanded based on estimates of sea currents that may have carried the victims farther from the original location, with the search focus concentrated in the southern waters of Tarutao Island.
He said the Thai authorities would focus their operations in the north of the island.
About 300 Burmese immigrants of the Rohingya ethnic group and Bangladeshis were believed to have boarded a vessel before being transferred to two boats.
However, one of the boats, with about 70 immigrants on board, was said to have capsized in the waters of Tarutao Island about 2.5 nautical miles north of Langkawi, while the location of the vessel and the other boat, believed to be carrying about 230 immigrants, was unknown.
Meanwhile, Langkawi police chief ACP Khairul Azhar Nuruddin said they are continuing investigations into the possible involvement of a syndicate believed to have organised the migrants’ journey.
Information obtained from the survivors indicated they had dealings with agents in Myanmar, and several phone numbers obtained from the victims also suggest the possible involvement of agents operating in Malaysia.
“However, the case is still at the initial stage of investigation. Based on the phone numbers retrieved, we will conduct further inquiries, as there is a strong possibility that a syndicate is involved,” he said.
