Holiday turns tragic as two siblings drown on Pulau Mentigi
MERSING: What was meant to be a joyful holiday back in their hometown ended in tragedy when two siblings drowned while swimming at the Pulau Mentigi beach here this afternoon.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Mersing Zone director Maritime Commander Suhaizan Saadin said the deceased were Nur Awatif Udaima Mohd Hisam, 15, and her younger brother Ahmad Uwais Al Qarni, 13.
He said the Malaysia Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Johor alerted them at 4.25 pm to activate a search and rescue (SAR) operation, after which MMEA'S patrol boat PERKASA 44 was deployed to the scene.
"According to the information received, the first victim, Nur Awatif Udaima, was found at the location where she drowned by the local community at 4.30 pm.
"The PERKASA 44 boat and the islanders then expanded the search sector, and Ahmad Uwais Al Qarni was found through diving efforts by island residents at 6.30 pm," he said in a statement tonight.
Suhaizan said it is understood that the victims' family had returned to their village at Pulau Tinggi for the school holidays, and the family had gone to the beach, about 19 nautical miles from the Mersing coastline, for an outing.
He added that the bodies were handed over to the Marine Police Force (PPM) and brought back to the Shahbandar Jetty.
Meanwhile, Mersing District Police Chief Supt Abdul Razak Abdullah Sani said that the bodies of the siblings were sent to Mersing Hospital for post-mortem.– BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Police probe boat tragedy off Tanjung Harapan that claimed three lives
KLANG: Police have opened an investigation into the boat capsizing incident which occurred at 4.30pm off Tanjung Harapan, claiming three lives and leaving two people missing. North Klang district police chief Assistant Commissioner S. Vijaya Rao said the case is being investigated under Section 280 of the Penal Code for reckless or negligent navigation. He said this follows preliminary findings into the vessel's condition, witness statements, and the incident's circumstances. Police have so far recorded statements from three individuals, including the sole survivor of the tragedy. "Yes, we have recorded the survivor's statement. "In addition to the survivor, statements were also taken from two key witnesses, both affiliated with the Royal Selangor Yacht Club. "One of them was the person who made the emergency call to MERS 999. "He had sought help from a colleague, also from the Yacht Club, to assist in towing the sunken boat," he told reporters at a press conference at the Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) headquarters this evening. He said the vessel has since been refloated and towed to the Selangor MMEA headquarters for further inspection. The boat will later be transferred to the marine police base for a comprehensive technical investigation. "Our focus now includes a technical analysis of the vessel to determine if any elements of negligence or mechanical failure were involved," he said. The incident occurred on Friday evening and involved six people board a recently repaired boat. "Three victims, including a three-year-old boy, were found dead, while two others remain missing. "One teenager survived and is currently receiving medical treatment," he added. Vijaya said the search for the missing couple, identified as Gan Hon Tat and his wife Careen Man, is ongoing. He said the search and rescue (SAR) operation would be temporarily halted at 7pm due to poor visibility. "Based on advice from the Fire and Rescue Department, today's SAR efforts were mostly focused on the sea surface and inside the boat," he said, adding that it took nearly four hours for the authorities to retrieve and refloat the vessel after yesterday's incident. He said strong underwater currents made it unsafe for rescuers to conduct search below the surface.
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
MMEA intercepts petrol cargo boat without insurance coverage
BESUT: A local cargo boat carrying petrol was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for operating without valid insurance coverage. Terengganu MMEA director Maritime Captain Hamiludin Che Awang said the boat was intercepted at 1.28pm last Thursday, 26.6 nautical miles west of Kuala Besut estuary. He said the vessel, manned by a skipper and two local crew members aged between 20 and 40, was believed to be en route to deliver petrol supplies to Pulau Redang, Kuala Nerus. "While patrolling the area under Op Iman, the maritime vessel Perkasa 48 came across the cargo boat carrying barrels of fuel and proceeded to conduct an inspection. "Checks revealed that the boat was suspected of committing an offence under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for operating without a valid insurance contract," he said in a statement today. Hamiludin emphasised that maritime insurance is not only a legal requirement but also crucial in ensuring the safety of crew, assets, and national waters from unforeseen risks. The boat, along with its skipper and crew, was taken to the Kuala Besut Maritime Post jetty for further investigation. "MMEA urges all shipping operators and boat owners to ensure their documents and maritime insurance coverage are always up to date and in full compliance with regulations," he said. He stressed that MMEA will not compromise on legal compliance, particularly in the state's waters, and stern action will be taken to uphold the nation's maritime security.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Three dead, couple missing after boat capsizes off Port Klang [WATCH]
SHAH ALAM: Three people, including a three-year-old child, died while a married couple remains missing after their boat capsized in the waters off Tanjung Harapan, Port Klang, near here yesterday afternoon. Selangor Maritime Director, Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, said the tragedy occurred at around 4.30pm and involved six locals. So far, only one person has been confirmed to have survived. According to preliminary investigations, the boat is believed to have lost control before capsizing about 0.3 nautical miles west of Tanjung Harapan. "A team from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Selangor resumed the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation at 7am today, after it was suspended at 8pm last night. "The operation was activated by the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Johor Baru at 5.16pm after receiving a report of the incident. "The missing victims have been identified as Gan Hon Tat, 32, and his wife Careen Man, 29, both from Klang Utama," he said in a statement today. Abdul Muhaimin said the couple was reported to be on the boat with their son, Darren Gan, aged 3. "Investigations revealed that the child was found in the front section of the boat alongside an adult male, Cheu Son Hin, 50. Both were confirmed dead. "Another male victim found dead at the scene was their friend, Fong Yong Sen, 29. The sole survivor has been identified as Chang Yan Qin, 17. "The capsized boat was towed by another passenger boat to the floating jetty at the Selangor Maritime Headquarters," he said. He added that the SAR operation involved Malaysian Maritime assets along with partner agencies, including the marine police, the Fire and Rescue Department and assistance from nearby passenger boats. "A Forward Search and Rescue Base has also been established at the Selangor Maritime Headquarters to coordinate all SAR efforts. "Malaysian Maritime also reminds the public to prioritise safety when undertaking any maritime activities, including wearing life jackets and monitoring weather conditions," he said. He added that any information related to maritime emergencies can be reported to the Selangor Maritime Operations Centre at 03-3176 0627 or via MERS 999 for immediate response.
