3 dead as boat carrying illegal immigrants capsizes in Malaysia waters

KUALA LUMPUR -- Three people drowned after a boat carrying illegal immigrants capsized early Tuesday morning off the waters in Bandar Penawar in Malaysia's state of Johor Baru, according to local media.

The police said that the dead included two adult women and one man, all Indonesian nationals.

The boat was believed to be traveling illegally to Batam, Indonesia when the boat capsized at around 2:56 am local time, according to The Star, a local English-language newspaper.

It said 26 other passengers rescued from the boat had been detained to assist in investigations.

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