ELEVEN people have died and 25 others were missing after their boat capsized, believed due to bad weather, in Tanjung Balau, near Kota Tinggi, early this morning.

Johor Maritime director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the incident was reported at 4.30am and the search and rescue operation (SAR) was still ongoing to find the remaining passengers.

“There were about 60 illegal immigrants were in the boat. Ten bodies have been found by the Malaysian Army,” he said in a statement earlier today. Later, authorities reported another death.

He said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency began SAR operations at 8.50am, using vessels and helicopters.

The Johor Baru Maritime Rescue sub centre received a report about the incident from the Bandar Penawar Fire and Rescue Station, which received the information on the discovery of the boat from Tanjung Sepang tactical headquarters, he said.

The survivors were found at the beach and taken to the Tanjung Sepang Malaysian Armed Forces post in Kota Tinggi.

The boat passengers’ personal effects, including wallets, photos, clothes and bags, were found strewn along Tanjung Balau beach.

The Malaysian Third Infantry Division Command, Terendak Camp, Malacca said in a statement that the incident was reported around 4.30 am and the boat was found in an overturned position and buffeted by waves around 20 metres from the beach.

“The Quick Response Force team and the MAF drone team were deployed with the assistance of the Royal Malaysian Navy to locate the remaining illegal immigrants around the area,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said seven men and four women were found drowned.

Johor Maritime Operations deputy director Capt (Maritime) Simon Templer Lo Tusa said search and rescue operations will likely take around four to 10 days depending on prevailing conditions.

“Investigations will be conducted to find the syndicate mastermind transporting illegals on the capsized boat,” he said during a media conference at the location of the incident.

In Johor Baru, checks by Bernama at the Sultan Ismail Johor Bahru Hospital’s forensics department found a police lorry carrying the 11 victims had arrived at the hospital at around 3.10pm.

The remains were handled by forensics personnel in full personal protection equipment for autopsies. – Bernama, December 15, 2021.