KUDAT: Four people including three foreigners have gone missing in Kudat waters near here last night.
Spaniards David Hernandez Gasulla and Martha Miguel, as well as China citizen Lam Wai Yin who was piloting the boat, initially left Pulau Balambangan, Banggi with a Malaysian woman, but failed to reach their destination at Simpang Mengayau here.
Sabah and Labuan regional maritime director First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the group left the island at 5.30pm yesterday and was supposed to reach there at 8pm.
"A report was lodged by the boat owner after they did not reach their destination. Efforts to contact them until this morning also failed.
"Search and rescue operations started at 2.20pm. We are not ruling out the possibility of the boat malfunctioning due to the bad weather and strong currents," he added.