KOTA KINABALU: Nine people, three of them children, were rescued after the fishing boat they were on capsized on being hit by high waves off Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.

       The incident occurred in Tobo-Tobo Island waters around 3.45pm on Monday (March 4).

       The adults rescued were Mohammad Maleh Muhammad Husin, 43, Norfidah Safri, 43, Justina Buglayan, 41, Sahura Safri, 39, Hasalinah Buglayan, 37, and Nurul Qasibah Mohammad Maleh, 18.

       The children were Irman Elman and Nur Khayla Abdullah, both two, and five-year-old Nurul Wafiyyah Jasimu.

       Semporna Fire and Rescue Department chief Noor Jali Maslah said they deployed a kevlar boat upon being informed of the incident.

       “On reaching the location, we found that the boat had submerged,” he said when contacted on Tuesday (March 5).

       “There were nine people rescued by our boat crew,” he added.

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       He said the victims have returned to their homes on Sumande Island.

       Noor Jali said the operation ended at 4.48pm after no further safety risks were found.