11 Indonesians Killed after Boat Sinks due to Bad Weather in Malaysian Waters: Foreign Ministry

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Eleven Indonesian citizens have died and 14 others have to be rescued after a boat sank due to bad weather in Johor waters, Malaysia early Wednesday, December 15, an Indonesian official confirmed.

“The Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru has received an initial information from the Malaysian authorities regarding the incident of sinking boat carrying passengers who were believed to be Indonesian citizens on Wednesday at 5:00 am local time southeast of Tanjung Balau, Kota Tinggi in Johor,” Foreign Ministry director for the protection of citizens and legal entities overseas Judha Nugraha told Kompas.com.

“The accident was allegedly due to adverse weather conditions in the areas,” Judha added.
At the time of publication, the 11 victims have yet been identified and the total number of Indonesian passengers is still unclear, he said.

Also read: Six Dead, Several Missing after Boat Sinks in Bali Strait

“Based on the information provided, a team from the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru came to the scene and the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for identifying and handling the victims.”

AFP news agency reported that the vessel, believed to be carrying 60 migrants, went down in the morning off Malaysia's southern state of Johor, the coastguard said.

At least 27 others are believed to be missing in the incident.

Soldiers on patrol discovered the bodies of seven men and four women on the shore, coastguard chief Admiral Mohamad Zubil Mat Som told AFP.

Also read: Boat Carrying 115 Indonesian Undocumented Migrant Workers, Children Returning from Malaysia Caught

Another 20 men and two women were found alive following the voyage from a nearby Indonesian island, and have been taken into custody, he said.

Those missing are believed to have fled into hiding or drowned, and authorities have deployed boats and an aircraft to hunt for them.

"We deeply regret this deadly tragedy," Mohamad Zubil told AFP.

"I urge migrants not to enter Malaysia illegally."

(Writer: Mutia Fauzia | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/12/15/17352861/kemenlu-pastikan-11-wni-tewas-karena-kecelakaan-kapal-di-perairan-malaysia.