Boat carrying 13 people missing in Malaysian waters

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 10: Rescue teams on Monday searched for a recreational fishing boat that was reported missing with 13 persons on board in the waters off the state of Sabah in Malaysia's Borneo Island, a media report said.

The vessel, carrying three crew members and 10 others, set sail on October 7 from Kota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah, on a three-day trip to the Mantanani and Mengalum islands, some 80 km from the city port, Efe news reported.

The boat owner told authorities he lost radio contact with the crew on Saturday while the vessel was navigating waters between the two South China Sea islands, west of Sabah, according to local media.

Meanwhile, Director of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Mohamad Zubil Matsom, told the local media that two of their vessels began the search for the missing boat on Sunday, while marine police and the air force joined the operations on Monday morning.

IANS