MANJUNG: Three people were killed and 18 others injured after two motorboats collided along Lumut Pangkor waters here yesterday.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Nor Omar Sappi said that the police were informed of the incident yesterday at 9.17pm.
Nor Omar said that upon receiving the distress call, a team of police and firemen from Manjung, assisted by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) were rushed to the scene to launch a search and rescue operation.
"Initial investigations showed that the accident occurred at about 9pm along the Lumut Pangkor waters, near the RMN Naval Base in Lumut.
"The accident involved a motorboat with 17 passengers and a tekong (motorboat captain) heading to Pangkor Island from Lumut, while the other motorboat with two passengers and a tekong was heading to Lumut from Pangkor Island.
"After the motorboats collided, 10 passengers from the motorboat heading to Pangkor Island from Lumut were thrown into the waters and they were rescued by both tekong," he said in a statement today.
Nor Omar said all of the injured victims were taken to the Angkatan Tentera Laut Hospital (HAT) in Lumut here for further treatment.
"The hospital has informed the police that three of the victims aged between 26 and 43 were pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
"Another 43-year-old woman patient is currently receiving treatment at the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 17 others have received outpatient treatment," he said.
Nor Omar said all of the deceased were taken to the Seri Manjung Hospital for post-mortem.
"So far, the case has been classified as sudden death," he said adding that those with information could contact Manjung district police headquarters at 05-6886222 or the nearest police station to assist in investigations.