China urges continuing search for Chinese tourists in boat accident

Xinhua | 2017-01-30 17:09

China urges continuing search for Chinese tourists in boat accident

This picture taken on early Jan 30, 2017 shows medics attending to survivors at a jetty in Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah after a tourist catamaran sank on Jan 28. Three Chinese passengers died and six were missing after a tourist boat sank in rough seas off eastern Malaysia, officials confirmed late on Jan 29, with 22 people rescued following the shipwreck. [Photo/VCG]

Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday asked Malaysia to maintain its search and rescue effort for Chinese nationals from a boat that sank off Malaysia's Sabah State on North Borneo on Saturday evening.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also expressed hope that Malaysia would report the developments promptly.

"In the meantime, China hopes the Malaysian side will carry out fair and objective investigation to find out the truth as early as possible," said Geng.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry, 20 Chinese tourists had been rescued, with three dead and five missing.

Geng expressed deep condolences to the victims, adding that the Chinese Consulate General's Office based in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, had sent staff to coordinate rescue work with the search and rescue center.

The boat carrying 31 people, including 28 tourists from China, went missing on Saturday after sailing from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island, some 60 km west to Kota Kinabalu.

Related: 3 Chinese tourists confirmed dead after boat sinks

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia - Three Chinese tourists on board a boat which sank off Malaysia's Sabah state on North Borneo were confirmed dead early Monday after being rescued.

Three Chinese tourists have passed away among the 25 people rescued so far, while six people remained missing, said Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, Director General of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

The Chinese tourists who were rescued and the bodies of those passed away arrived in Kota Kinabalu early Monday.

Chen Peijie, Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu, said the surviving Chinese tourists suffered different degrees of injuries and would be sent to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Shahidan Kassim, a minister in the Malaysia's Prime Minister's Department, told a press conference Sunday night that 23 people were rescued by tug boats and fishermen, after the skipper and a crew member were rescued earlier on Sunday.

According to him, the skipper said the boat was broken by strong wave before wrecked in bad weather and rough sea.

The boat went missing on Saturday when travelling from Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, to Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island, 60 km west to Kota Kinabalu. A total of 31 people were on board, including 28 tourists from China and three crew members.

Shahidan said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, maritime police as well as Malaysian navy and airforce have joined the search efforts.

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