Malaysia ends search for victims of capsized migrant boat off Pangkor Island
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Pangkor Island: Malaysian authorities have ended a nearly week-long search and rescue operation for victims of a migrant boat that capsized off the coast of Pangkor Island, with at least 16 confirmed dead and 23 survivors rescued.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak said the operation was called off after no further victims were found in the search area.
The vessel, believed to have been carrying 37 undocumented Indonesian migrants, sank on May 11 about 8.2 nautical miles from the island while en route to Malaysia, according to officials.
Authorities said initial estimates of those onboard may be inaccurate, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact number of passengers.
The search effort involved the navy, maritime police and local fishing communities. The bodies recovered have been sent for identification and post-mortem examination.
Malaysia remains a key transit and destination point for irregular migration in the region, with maritime smuggling routes frequently linked to deadly accidents.
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