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Monday, 30 November 2009

Sabah boat capsize: One more body fished out

KOTA KINABALU: Families started burying those drowned after a wooden cargo vessel capsized in waters off the northern Kudat district three days ago just as another body was fished from the waters Sunday.

Kudat district police chief Deputy Supt Dawi Ossen said villagers at Pulau Molleoangan found 19-year-old Akmal Nazirah Sudin’s body at about 7.30am and immediately alerted the Fire and Rescue Services Department.

He said Akmal’s body was found close to shore and about 25kms from where the boat with 28 people sank in rough seas while on journey between Kudat and Pulau Banggi on Thursday.

Among those on board the overloaded craft were three crew members and the 21 relatives of former Sabah Assemblyman Yahya Othman, 61.

With the recovery of Akmal’s body, the number of those still missing is nine with six bodies recovered so far.

Thirteen other people, including Yahya, survived the ordeal.

On Sunday, Dawi said the search and rescue effort mounted by Marine Police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, firemen as well as villagers was called off at sunset and will continue at 7am Monday.

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