Boat carrying more than 200 capsizes in Malaysia, 21 missing

USPA News - Malaysian rescue workers recovered two bodies Tuesday after a ferry boat carrying more than 200 people capsized on a jungle river in the island of Borneo, officials said. Most of those on board were able to swim to safety but nearly two dozen remain missing.

The accident occurred at around 8:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday on Rajang River near the town of Belaga in Sarawak, a state located in Malaysia`s region of Borneo island. It is believed at least 204 people were on board the Kawan Mas Express ferry boat, more than three times the maximum capacity of 67. It is believed the accident happened when the overloaded vessel crashed into a rock before capsizing, about four hours after taking off. Sarawak Police officials said 181 people managed to swim to safety while 23 others went missing, but rescue workers later recovered the bodies of two of them. Many of the passengers, some of whom were sitting on the boat`s roof because there was no space elsewhere, were returning home after the weekend`s Gawai Dayak festivities. The Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) said it had launched a full investigation and said it will determine whether it should take action against the boat`s operator. The identities of the victims were not immediately known as there was no proper passenger list.