KOTA KINABALU: A catamaran boat with 31 people on board – mostly Chinese tourists – has been reported missing after failing to return from its excursion near here yesterday.
The boat, which was carrying 28 people from China, a skipper and two crewmembers, sailed out from Tanjung Aru to Pulau Mengalum, about 60km west of Kota Kinabalu, at 9am yesterday.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) received a distress call on the disappearance of the boat late last night.
Sabah MMEA communications officer Lieutenant Awil Kamsari said a search and rescue operation has been activated and a police report was lodged at 9.50pm.
"The search area covers 400 nautical square miles and involves waters between Kota Kinabalu and Pulau Mengalum.
"The Royal Malaysian Air Force will be notified to carry out aerial surveillance," Awil added.