JOHOR BARU: The body of a 28-year-old fisherman who went missing after his boat capsized during a storm has been found today, near Kukup, four nautical miles from where the boat was reported missing from Rambah, Pontian.
The victim has been identified as Mohd Hafif Hafifi Abd Manaf, while another victim, 16-year-old Mohd Syami Hasing, who was with Hafif, is still missing. Both were from Kampung Pesisir Pontian.
It is believed that the two had left the jetty at 11am on Friday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Johor Baru director Maritime Captain Syed Nur Adli Ab Rahman said in a statement that the duo were fishing in the Rambah waters when strong winds overturned the boat and they were swept away by strong currents about 1km west of Sungai Rambah.
Apart from the duo, the storm also battered two other boats.
One was a trawler with four on board and the other, a small boat with two on board.
The six managed to swim to safety when their boat capsized.
Adli said the trawler sunk 1.8km west of Sungai Pontian Kechil while the other boat overturned at Penerok.
The Meteorological Department had yesterday forecasted bad weather, with thunderstorms and strong winds in Pontian, Kulai, Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Kluang, Batu Pahat and Muar.