ANOTHER body was recovered following during the search and rescue operation (Carilamat) for missing Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants after a boat capsized near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime boundary, bringing the total number of victims to 27.
Kedah and Perlis State Maritime Director, Maritime First Admiral Romli Mustafa said the body of an adult male was found floating by the Malaysian Maritime vessel, KM Tenggol, in the waters of Teluk Apau before being handed over to the Petir 81 boat.
The body will be taken to the Malaysian Maritime jetty, before being handed over to the police.
“Until yesterday, the total number of victims that were successfully found was 41, consisting of 14 survivors (12 men and two women) and 27 fatalities (14 men, nine women, two boys and two girls),” he said.
He said that at 9.39 am this morning, the Maritime Rescue Sub Center (MRSC) Langkawi also received a report from local fishermen regarding the discovery of a girl’s body about 5.8 nautical miles from Pulau Cupu.
"Following the report, the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Fast Combat Boat (FCB) 1331 was dispatched to the location to retrieve the body before it was taken to the Malaysian Maritime Jetty and handed over to the police," he said.
The operation, which is now in its fifth day, began at 7.30am with a force of 180 officers and personnel as well as 12 assets from various rescue agencies.The search area covers 260.15 square nautical miles divided into 12 sectors with KM Tenggol acting as the On Scene Commander (OSC).
Four Malaysian Maritime assets were used in this operation including the Petir 81 boat, the Benteng 07 boat and the Perkasa 1226 boat.
In addition, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) deployed three assets — PSC 19, PSC 23 and a Beechcraft KingAir 350 aircraft belonging to the Air Operations Force (PGU) while the RMN assigned KD Laksamana Mohamad Amin, FCB 1330 and FCB 1331.
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) also used Kevlar boats, as well as the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) with RIB boats.
Romli stressed that the operation would continue with other rescue agencies until all victims were found. - November 13, 2025
