Malaysian authorities retrieved four additional bodies from border waters with Thailand on Tuesday, raising the maritime disaster death toll to 16 on their side while rescuers located one more survivor on a resort island beach. The recovery effort spanning 272.78 square nautical miles began at 7:30 a.m. and involved 130 personnel from multiple agencies supported by 11 vessels and aircraft, including patrol boats and a Bombardier CL 415 plane.
Kedah and Perlis Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director Romli Mustafa reported that civilians discovered the first victim near Pulau Beras Basah around midmorning, while navy and coast guard vessels found three others, including two boys, in waters off Tanjung Chincin and Tanjung Belua. Difficult sea conditions and the expansive search zone continue to challenge operations as teams work to locate remaining missing individuals.
Thai rescue teams operating in parallel have recovered nine bodies from their territorial waters, bringing combined fatalities to 25 with 14 people rescued overall.
Kedah and Perlis Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director Romli Mustafa reported that civilians discovered the first victim near Pulau Beras Basah around midmorning, while navy and coast guard vessels found three others, including two boys, in waters off Tanjung Chincin and Tanjung Belua. Difficult sea conditions and the expansive search zone continue to challenge operations as teams work to locate remaining missing individuals.
Thai rescue teams operating in parallel have recovered nine bodies from their territorial waters, bringing combined fatalities to 25 with 14 people rescued overall.
