One killed in boat accident

One killed in boat accident

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): One Indonesian died and another 11 were
missing after their boat capsized in strong winds along
Malaysia's narrow Straits of Malacca last week, officials said
Saturday.

A survivor was rescued by a passing merchant ship, a spokesman
for the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center told AFP.

"We have alerted all vessels plying the straits to report to
us on any citing of bodies," he said, adding the center had no
information on whether the Indonesians were illegally making
their way to Malaysia.

The Star newspaper cited marine police as saying that the
Indonesians, aged between 20 and 40, were on their way here from
Bengkalis, Sumatra, to look for work. Their boat encountered
engine problems and sank after being hit by strong waves late on
February 5, the daily reported. A merchant ship alerted police
when it found one of the victims clinging on to pieces of wood
nearly 17 hours after the incident.