Malaysia: Rescuers recover four bodies after cargo ship “MV Tung Sung” capsizes

The Sarawak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Saturday (22 July) said rescuers involved in the search and rescue operation of capsized domestic cargo ship MV Tung Sung have recovered four bodies about 15 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Burung. 

Rescuers received information from a local fishing vessel at 1.15pm on three bodies floating in the area. 

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director Maritime First Admiral Zin Azman Md Yunus said MMEA vessel KM Kinabalu was dispatched to the location to recover the bodies. 

After the bodies were collected and brought to Sebuyau Jetty, KM Kinabalu resumed the search and rescue operation and found another body at 5.25pm. 

The three bodies whose identities have not yet been identified were handed over to the Sebuyau District Police and the health department for further investigation while the fourth body was reported to be on the way to Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex Jetty (KOMTAS).

The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to find the remaining victims who are still missing.

On 20 July, MMEA activated the operation at 1.20pm following reports of MV Tung Sung sinking and overturning in the Subuyau Waters on the same day. 

MMEA said it received a report at 9.40am that the ship could not be tracked and contacted and a patrol vessel was sent to its last location about 12 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung PO. Nine crew members were reported missing.

Photo credit: Maritime Enforcement Agency Malaysia
Published: 24 July, 2023