KEPALA BATAS – All six fishermen who went missing in different parts of the sea around Penang after heavy rain and strong winds lashed the region yesterday have been found and are safe.
Three of them were located near Pulau Bidan at about 9.30am today by other local fishermen. The islet is about 30 nautical miles from their village in Penaga, along the coast of Kepala Batas district.
They had lost control of their boat near Pulau Payar, which is off the mainland of the neighbouring state of Kedah early yesterday morning.
At about the same time, the other three fishermen suffered when the boat they were in was tossed about by tall powerful waves on the Straits of Melaka off the southern coast of Penang island.
Two of them had managed to find refuge at the islet of Pulau Kendi, where they were found by a search team from the Fire and Rescue Department and other relevant agencies.
The third was found later in the day.
The department had organised the separate operations since 10.30am yesterday, said operations commander senior officer Abdul Rahim Ismail.
The fishermen found at Pulau Bidan have been identified as Mohd Firdaus Samsudin, 30, and Hazizul Zakaria and Ruzidi Saad, both in their 40s.
Their problem was compounded when their boat ran out of fuel and drifted in the choppy waters.
Seberang Prai Utara district police chief ACP Mohd Radzi Ahmad also confirmed that the fishermen arrived in Penaga and the search and rescue operations had come to an end.
The other fishermen who went missing off Batu Maung on the southwestern side of Penang island were Tan Soon Gin, who in his 30s, and Pai San Chu Kaw, who is in his 40s.
Fire and Rescue Department senior officer Mohd Awis Kharni Abdul Rahman from the Bayan Baru fire station confirmed that they were located at Pulau Kendi.
The identity of the third victim, who is the skipper of the boat, has yet to be identified.
Awis said the initial distress call came at about 8.14am yesterday. A seven-man team was rushed to the sea for the search and rescue operation. – The Vibes, March 22, 2022
