A massive aerial and sea search is underway for the four
people who remain missing in the South China Sea
for more than 72 hours.
Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Regional Maritime director Laksamana Pertama Mohd
Zubil Mat Som said six aircraft were involved in the search along with six
vessels from various agencies.
He said the search covering an area of more than 2,500sq km,
or more than 10 times the size of Penang
island, was being carried out west of Kudat.
The four – Spaniards David Hernandez Gasulla and Martha Miguel,
Tanjung Simpang Mengayau resort owner Tommy Lam Wai Yin and another Malaysian
identified as Ms Ella – went missing at about 6pm on Monday.
The
search now involves the MMEA’s Dauphin helicopter, an Air Force Beechcraft as
well as two other helicopters, a Cessna and a Nomad from Kota Kinabalu-based
Layang Layang Aerospace.
Laksamana Pertama Mohd Zubil said also involved in the
search were four MMEA vessels, three naval ships and two marine police patrol
boats.
The families of the four had reportedly chartered three
vessels to help in the search.
The four went missing while sailing from Pulau Balambangan and
were supposed to arrive at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau at 8pm on Monday.
The engine of their boat may have malfunctioned, resulting
in them being adrift in the sea.
The four are believed to have set off from Tanjung Simpang
Mengayau earlier and the area where they went missing is where the Sulu Sea
and the South China Sea meet.
The area is known for strong winds and choppy waters where
many fishing boats have capsized over the years.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said
the four went missing amid bad weather and rough seas.
Asked about the possibility of being kidnapped, he said: “We
can’t say that because we do not know where they are. Don’t speculate.”
He said this after presenting Ops Daulat medals of
valour to 200 police officers and personnel at the Sabah General Operations
Force headquarters in Kinarut near here.
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