A wooden boat carrying 97 Indonesian migrants capsized and sank after
leaving Malaysia's west coast, and rescuers scrambled to save 66 people
still missing, Malaysia's maritime agency said Wednesday.
The boat sank shortly after midnight about 2 nautical miles (3.7
kilometers) from shore on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur while trying to
leave Malaysia illegally, said the agency's official, who declined to be
named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
He said that the Indonesians, including women and children, were
believed to be heading home ahead of the start of the holy Muslim month
of Ramadan.
Thirty-one people have been rescued so far, the official said. A ship
and several boats were searching for survivors and a helicopter will
soon be dispatched, he said.
No reason was immediately given for the accident.
Tens of thousands of Indonesians work illegally in plantations and other
industries in Malaysia. They sometimes risk dangerous boat journeys to
return home.
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