MERSING: Six tourists, including two women stranded in Pulau Rawa, here, due to adverse northeast monsoon conditions, were rescued by Maritime Malaysia personnel today.
Maritime Mersing Zone Director Commander Maritime Suhaizan Saadin said the tourists were stranded at about 7.45am, and the Perkasa 31 patrol vessel was despatched to the island following distress signals sent by the resort management.
The tourists were holidaying at the island resort. They could not return to land due to rough, choppy seas and heavy rain.
The tourists, consisting of two couples from France and Singapore and two Malaysians aged between 35, were transferred from the resort to the Syahbandar Mersing public jetty.
"Despite the challenges, which included heavy rain and turbulent seas, the patrol vessel managed to navigate and safely transport the stranded tourists back to land," he said, adding the operation took about two hours.
He said the northeast monsoon phenomenon could include big waves and is predicted to subside by the year's end.
He also urged maritime communities to remain vigilant and avoid sea activities as it would be dangerous.