350 die after refugee boat is turned away

1978 - More than 350 Vietnamese refugees were feared drowned after their boat, which had been refused permission to land in Malaysia, was pounded to bits by heavy seas. A police spokesman said the boat had been carrying 87 men, 47 women and 156 children. He said 143 people, including many children, were feared dead. Forty-four bodies had been recovered. Police prevented the boat from coming ashore and the vessel broke up 100 yards from shore.