Batam, Batamnews - The search for the missing 16 victims of the sinking boat in Tanjungbalau Waters, Johor, Malaysia was still hampered by bad weather. These victims are Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who infiltrated Malaysia through illegal channels.

Deputy Director of Operations, Johor Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia), Maritim Captain Simon Templer Lo Ak Tusa said the wind speeds were expected to be 40 to 50 kilometers per hour, in addition to waves as high as 2.5 to 3.5 meters and thunderstorms in some places.

"Op Carilamat, which entered its fifth day, no new victims were found until 8 this morning," he said, Sunday (12/19/2021).

The search will continue using four ships with a search sector covering an area of ​​111 sq nautical miles, while the Malaysian Maritime AW139 helicopter will conduct an aerial search covering a search sector of 76.50 sq nautical miles.

The search mission on the coast was continued by Malaysian Maritime personnel, Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Civil Defense Force (APM), and Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) covering Tanjung Siang to Sungai Muuh.

He said a total of 61 personnel from various agencies were deployed, including air, sea, and land searches.

Previously, it was reported that in the incident last Wednesday morning, a beading ship carrying 50 illegal migrants (illegal migrant workers) sank in a storm in the waters of Tanjung Balau.

Until now, the number of victims found was 34 people, 21 died, 13 survived, and 16 others are still missing.