(Kuching, 27th) Sarawak Maritime Director Kamal Ariffin pointed out that in the local fishing boat sinking incident at Bird Island, only one Thai crew member is still missing and his life status is unknown.
He disclosed that the local fishing boat involved in the incident set sail on the 17th of this month and suddenly lost contact on the 23rd. The owner onshore was unable to reach the 6 crew members and called the maritime enforcement agency for help at 6:43 PM.
He stated that during the search and rescue operation, 5 of the 6 crew members on the sunken boat were rescued one after another.
Kamal Ariffin indicated in today's statement that despite entering the fourth day of the search and rescue operation, the last missing person has not yet been found.
He stated that the weather condition in the incident sea area is not favorable, with cloudy skies and fog, wind speeds of 20 to 30 kilometers per hour, and waves ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 meters high.
He disclosed that due to the weather and darkness, the search and rescue operation was suspended at 6 PM yesterday and will continue the next day.
He urged the public to prioritize safety factors when engaging in any sea activities, to carry personal locator beacons or emergency position indicating radio beacons, and to always wear life jackets.
If you have relevant information, please call the Sarawak Maritime Department hotline at 082-432006 or the emergency hotline at 999 for assistance.