KOTA TINGGI: The body of a man, believed to have been the victim of an overturned boat incident at Teluk Ramunia, Pengerang, near here last Thursday, was found about five nautical miles southwest of the naval base from Changi to Singapore.

The director of the Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria, said the Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre was notified by Singapore authorities of the body’s discovery on Saturday.

“The body would have drifted 17.7 nautical miles from where the boat capsized,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.

“Based on the identity documents found, the victim, who is a 39-year-old Indonesian citizen, is believed to have died more than two days ago.

“He is believed to be one of three victims reported missing during the incident,” he said in a statement.

First Admiral Nurul Hizam also said Operation Carilamat, which entered its fourth day, continued the search at sea covering an area of ​​54 square nautical miles and along 20 km of the coastal zone.

He said the operation involved a total of 76 officers and staff from various agencies including the Royal Malaysian Police, Royal Malaysian Navy, Fire and Rescue Service, Civil Defense Force and the maritime community. .

During the 4:50 a.m. incident, a wooden boat carrying 27 illegal immigrants believed to be from Tanjung Tondang, Bintan, Indonesia capsized approximately one nautical mile from Teluk Ramunia.

Five Indonesian women drowned while 19 others, including 10 women and nine men, survived.