Nine people, including five Australians and two British tourists, were saved in a rescue operation after a boat capsized in stormy seas off Malaysia yesterday, police and officials said, but one person is dead and one remains missing.
"The five Australians were picked up at sea. They are being treated for minor injuries. Two locals were also rescued," said Mohamad Zain Yacob, acting police chief for Sandakan, a coastal town in Sabah state on Borneo island.
Mohamad later said two British tourists were rescued but one local woman died and another man was missing after the boat, ferrying people to an island off Borneo, capsized in the late morning.
"A local man is still missing while the wife of the boatman died due to drowning," he said.
Meanwhile the Australian High Commission confirmed that five Australians had been rescued along with two British tourists.
"The Australian government appreciates the quick and effective response of the Malaysian authorities," an Australian High Commission official said.
Police earlier launched a massive search and rescue operation involving the marine police and the navy around the Padas river mouth, although they were hampered by rough weather.
The boat was ferrying the tourists and four local staff for tour company the Wildlife Expedition.
RSS