KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people have gone missing after a boat capsized in the waters off the eastern state of Sabah and rescue operations is underway, local government said Wednesday.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) received a report made by two local men in Tawau of Sabah, who saved two of the passengers on the boat at around 6 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the two survivors, the boat, carrying another 13, including the skipper and a baby, capsized at around 6 p.m. o'clock on Tuesday en route from Tinagat to Nyamuk River area in Indonesia.
It is not yet know the identities of the missing persons, possibly Indonesians, but MMEA regional director Mohd Zubil has ordered the search and rescue (SAR) mission Wednesday evening immediately after the report.
Yet, the operation could face challenges, said the director, as the the report was only made 24 hours after the incident.
It is the second major boat accident after the a boat carrying 28 tourists from China capsized in waters off Kota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah on Jan. 28.
Four Chinese people have been confirmed dead, while another five, including a Malaysian crew-member, are still missing.
