KOTA TINGGI: Eight more bodies have been found by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), bringing the total number of deaths to 19 in the boat tragedy in Tanjung Balau here.

       Johor MMEA deputy director (operations) Maritime Capt Simon Templer Lo Tusa said the eight victims comprised six men and two women, with 17 others still missing.

       “As of now, the total number of victims that have been found is 33, of whom 19 are dead, and the remaining 14 survivors have been treated and handed over to the Immigration Department.

       “The remains have been brought to the Sultan Ismail Hospital for further action,” he said.

       Templer said the search and rescue operation at sea would be called off due to nightfall but another operation would start near the shoreline during the night.

       He said the second day of the operation covered about 147 nautical miles (272km) of Tanjung Balau waters using MMEA assets such as KM Tegas and Petir 50 boats.

       MMEA has also deployed its AW 139 aircraft to cover about 76 nautical miles (140km) area.

       A total of 133 personnel and officers from the armed forces, police, marine police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force and the Health Ministry were involved.

       On Wednesday, 11 bodies of Indonesian nationals were found along Tanjung Balau beach after the boat they were on capsized due to high waves during bad weather.

       The boat was carrying some 50 undocumented migrants from Batam and Lombok, Indonesia.