Tourists missing off Kudat

Kudat: Four people – three of them foreign tourists – have been reported missing since Monday after their boat left Pulau Balambangan for Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, here.However, there is no indication if the four are adrift at sea due to engine failure or had been abducted by the Abu Sayyaf, as had happened in three instances off Sabah's east coast recently.

District Police Chief Supt Dawi Ossen said the missing have been identified as two Spanish aged 30 namely David Hernades Gasulla and Martha Miguel, a 45-year-old Chinese national Lam Wai Yin and a 23-year-old Malaysian believed to be a tourist guide known only as Miss Ella.

"We received a report from one Helen Mackri on Tuesday who stated that her four friends have not returned to a hotel in Simpang Megayau here after left Kg Batu Sirih Pulau Balambangan in a boat at about 5.30pm on Monday.

"It was also reported that Lam was the skipper of the boat and they have yet to arrive Tanjung Simpang Mengayau when they are supposed to reach there a few hours later on the same day (Monday) which led Helen to lodge missing report about the four," he told Daily Express when contacted, Tuesday.

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Dawi said the cause of the incident has yet to be known but it was learnt that the height of the waves were between 0.5 metre and one metre on Monday.

He said a search and rescue operation has been activated and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and marine police have been alerted and deploying their vessels to look for the four.

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He said the Community Development Leader (PPM) for Kudat has dispatched two boats as well as two boats belonging to villagers and two boats from the hotel the tourists are staying at Simpang Mengayau.

In a national portal, it was reported that MMEA Sabah and Labuan Region commander Maritime First Adminal Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the boat ferrying the four people is believed to be adrift after its engine failed.

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