SEMPORNA: Two people survived while another two are feared drowned after their boat was struck by another vessel off Sebangkat Island here.
Following the incident at 6am on Tuesday, a search and rescue operation was activated, and two Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency vessels were deployed to the site.
Semporna MMEA director Maritime Commander Amir Shubli said the boat carrying the four victims set out to sea on Aug 5 at 5pm before their boat was struck by another vessel the following day.
"The individual responsible for the collision has since fled the scene," he said in a statement today.
The two Filipino survivors, both 30 years old, were only identified as Reymar and Bocoi.
Reymar sustained severe injuries to his arm, knee, and back and has received treatment in the emergency ward at Semporna Hospital.
The two missing passengers, also aged 30, were identified as Rommek Tura and Jimal.
Entering the third day of the search today, the operation has now expanded to five sectors with an increased search area radius of 27 nautical square miles.
The search operation is also being jointly conducted by the navy, police, civil defence, and other agencies.