Bodies of last two missing boat capsize victims found
SANDAKAN: The search-andrescue operations for the victims of a capsized boat has been called off after the last two bodies were found yesterday.
According to a statement from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), at 7:50 am, the body of Nidzma Herman, 10, a Philippine national, was found floating in the waters between Tanjung Pasir and Mumiang near here.
At 1:30 pm, the body of 18month-old Noraina Ibrahim, also a Filipina, was found in Kuala Batu 2 near here.
They were among the 10 passengers of the ill-fated boat which capsized in the waters off Pulau Nunuyan near here last Thursday, Feb 28.
The other victims were Kimar Herman, 7 who was found at 4 pm on Friday Jumaat (March 1); Aidah Kadil, 35 who was found at noon on March 2; and Ibrahim Januari, 27 who was found at 9:05 am on Sunday.
The skipper of the boat has not been found, but the search for him has been handed over to the Sandakan police as he was believed to have run away using the boat’s petrol drums as floats.
The SAR operations involved the MMEA, the Marine Police, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Civil Defence Force
The operations began after five victims - three men and two women were found safe by the Navy assault board at 12:15 pm on Friday, March 1.
They were seen hanging on to the boat which overturned after 18 hours adrift since the incident on 6 pm on Thursday, Feb 28.
The boat was believed to be travelling from Pulau Taganak, in the Philippines to Sandakan and overturned due to choppy sea conditions. - Bernama