DUNGUN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation for five fishermen, believed to have drowned after their boat sank in Pulau Tenggol waters here last night.
Kemaman maritime director Commander Rashidilhadi Abd Rashid said a boat with six personnel has been deployed to the location about 10 nautical miles from Kuala Dungun.
He said the rescue boat departed from Kuala Kemaman jetty at about 11.45pm after receiving a report from Dungun police headquarters.
“We were informed that there were eight fishermen on the sunken boat and three of them managed to be rescued by another fishing boat nearby.
“At this moment, the SAR operation is underway at the location. We’re also gathering information, including the names and addresses of all the victims,” he said when contacted this morning.
In the 9.30pm incident last night, a boat belonging to a fisherman from Kampung Nibong Bawah was rented out to a group of fishermen before it sank after being hit by intense storm.
Another fishing boat nearby came to their aid and rescued three victims.