Around 43 Indonesians dead in boat sinking off Malaysia

By Ainur Rohmah

JAKARTA

Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia has confirmed that the death toll from a boat sinking has risen to 43, after search and rescue teams from the neighboring countries recovered 14 more bodies.

Herman Prayitno told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that the bodies of the Indonesian migrants who had been traveling home for a religious festival when the vessel capsized Thursday off the western coast of Malaysia were in damaged condition.

"Mostly they are illegal migrants. If they had been legal, they would have used a normal track [to go home]," he said.

A total of 20 people – 19 men and one woman, mostly from Aceh province in northern Sumatra island – were rescued after the around 15-meter vessel sank 10 miles from Malaysian shores.

Around seven people are believed to still be missing as the boat was suspected to be carrying around 70 people at the time of the accident.

The search operation will continue for at least three days ahead since the Malaysia authority set a seven-day search period.

Prayitno said the disaster identification team has identified 10 victims as of Sunday afternoon.

According to the Indonesian Embassy, 62 citizens so far have been reported missing by family.

According to Prayitno, those rescued will undergo investigations by Malaysian authorities, while the Indonesian Embassy will provide them legal assistance.

On Friday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo spoke of his sorrow at hearing the news, ordering the immediate repatriation of survivors.

Prayitno had earlier said that he suspects the boat was over its capacity, because the weather at the time of the accident was "relatively bright".