1 dead, 1 missing after boat capsizes
KUALA KEDAH: A fishing boat carrying four people capsized after it was hit by a large shipping vessel some 32 nautical miles west of the Kuala Muda estuary.
The fishermen, all Thai nationals, were landing their catch. The seas were rough and the rain was heavy when the 3am incident occurred.
Captain Anukun Matuwet, 58, and three crew members, Phaisan Dalem, 45, Ekkachai Sutprasoet, 33, and Somchok Sutprasoet, 30, managed to put on life jackets when they saw water seeping into their boat after it was hit.
Anukun used a walkie-talkie to inform other fishermen of their situation.
However, 30 minutes after they were hit, their boat capsized and the fishermen drifted at sea until a fishing boat came to their rescue at 8am.
Anukun and Phaisan were rescued close to each other, while a lifeless Ekkachai was spotted not far from them.
However, the fishermen who rescued them failed to find Ekkachai’s sibling, Somchok.
Anukun said they were hit from behind by a large vessel, which was heading north.
“After we were hit, I yelled for help to whomever was on the ship, but no one noticed. I used a walkie-talkie to call for help from other fishermen.”
He said they went out to sea for several days and were supposed to return to the Kuala Kedah fishing jetty today.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Northern Region deputy enforcement director Zulinda Ramly said the agency received a distress call about 11am yesterday.
She said a team was despatched to search for the missing crew members.
“Our search covers a radius of five nautical miles radius from where the boat was reported to have capsized.”
Zulinda said the rescue mission would resume at 7am today.