KANGAR: More than 560 passengers were stranded when a Langkawi-bound ferry ran aground on sandbanks off Kuala Perlis due to severe weather.
Konsortium Ferrylines Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Captain Dr Baharin Baharom said the ferry, which departed Kuala Perlis at 2.30pm, became stuck 0.5 nautical miles from the terminal.
"A total of 567 passengers heading for Langkawi are stranded 0.5 nautical miles from the Kuala Perlis terminal after the ferry was pushed by strong winds onto the sandbanks," he said today.
He said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency was conducting rescue operations to evacuate the passengers.
"Efforts are underway to transfer the passengers back to the terminal."
Baharin said 679 passengers scheduled to depart from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi were also left stranded as bad weather disrupted services.
"The ferries from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi scheduled for 1.30pm with 120 passengers, 2pm with 149 passengers and 2.30pm with 410 passengers all turned back due to strong winds in the waters off Kuala Kedah."