Boat Carrying Tourists Sinks off Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia navy ships scrambled on Sunday to rescue 31 people including 28 Chinese tourists aboard a boat which sank off the coast of Borneo, maritime officials and Chinese state media reported.

News ID: 71948

Date: 29 January 2017 - 15:50

According to MANA, the boat left Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia's eastern Sabah state, at about 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Saturday bound for the popular tourist spot of Mengalum island, Malaysian officials said.

Bad weather was hampering the search effort, which covers an area of about 400 nautical square miles.

"We are looking at strong winds and choppy waters," he said.