CNN
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Search efforts are underway for 3 lacking crew members after a Gabon-registered oil tanker caught hearth off the coast of southern Malaysia, Malaysian maritime authorities stated in a press release.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Company (MMEA) stated it had acquired an alert at 4pm native time Monday of a tanker on hearth, about 37.5 nautical miles northeast of the coastal area of Tanjung Sedili within the state of Johor.
The tanker was crusing from China to Singapore with 28 crew members when it caught hearth, MMEA stated.
A naval patrol boat was dispatched to the scene to rescue these on board, MMEA added. “Thankfully, 23 crew members had been rescued by two ships within the neighborhood,” MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria stated.
“Whereas we managed to rescue two crew members, three are nonetheless lacking,” he added.
“Ongoing operations will embrace investigations to ascertain if the trio deserted the tanker and jumped into sea, or had been trapped.”
Maritime authorities in neighboring Singapore stated they had been broadcasting alerts to vessels within the neighborhood to look out for the three lacking crew. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore recognized the tanker because the MT Pablo.
Movies confirmed the tanker on hearth, with massive plumes of black smoke rising into the air. Different ships had been noticed close by.
It’s presently unclear if there was any widespread environmental impression.
