PORT KLANG, Malaysia: Malaysian authorities on Thursday were searching for 35 people missing at sea following two boat accidents at a time when many illegal migrant workers head home to Indonesia for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
In the latest reported incident, nine people were missing off western Malaysia after a boat believed to be bound for the Indonesian island of Sumatra sank, said Mohamad Hambali Yaakup, an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
A passing vessel, MMEA boats and a helicopter rescued eighteen people Thursday, he said.
2nd boat sinks off Malaysia
2nd boat sinks off Malaysia
