KOTA TINGGI: A body, believed to be one of the victims of the boat tragedy at Tanjung Balau, has been found by a fisherman near Tanjung Punggal here.

       Johor MMEA deputy director (operations) Maritime Capt Simon Templer Lo Tusa said the body was found about 2.7 nautical miles (5km) east of Tanjung Punggal at 8.35am on Friday (Dec 17).

       “Meanwhile, one of the 14 survivors was pronounced dead at 12.45pm while being treated at the Kota Tinggi Hospital, bringing the total number of deaths to 21 in the Tanjung Balau boat tragedy.

       “The number of those missing now stands at 16 people, with 13 survivors,” he said in a statement.

       He added that the third day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation also involved two helicopters from the Armed Forces and the Fire and Rescue Department.

       He also noted that the aerial SAR has covered 135 nautical miles (250km) of the area while the marine SAR conducted by the MMEA, Navy and Marine Police had covered 79 nautical miles (146km).

       “We have also conducted a SAR operation at the shoreline from Tanjung Siang to Tanjung Balau,” he added.

       On Wednesday (Dec 15), the bodies of 11 Indonesian nationals were found along Tanjung Balau beach after their boat capsized due to high waves during bad weather.

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