Barge Accident off Malaysia: 14 Lost

By Aiswarya Lakshmi May 20, 2015

The Bolivian-registered Ocean Line 208 vessel, which was carrying sand, was hit by a huge wave at 4.20am today early morning and 14 people are feared to have drowned.

The barge carrying sand from Pengerang in Malaysia overturned after being hit by strong waves off Timur Tanjung Punggai, reports local media. Fourteen crew are still missing while one had been rescued.

According to Tanjung Sedili Maritime Enforcement chief, Amran Daud, the vessel overturned and sank about 8.6 nautical miles off Timur Tanjung Punggai. The crew onboard includes 14 Chinese nationals and one local.

Operations Search and Rescue (SAR) in Tanjung Punggai, Kota Tinggi, Johor was carried out in the morning. SAR efforts are ongoing, with one ship and three boats from the Tanjung Sedili Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) dispatched to the scene.

An MMEA plane is also being used in the operation in which the Marine Operations Force is also involved.