ALOR SETAR: Over 500 passengers on a Langkawi ferry that ran aground at the Kuala Kedah estuary were rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at 9.15pm on Thursday.
Kuala Kedah Maritime Zone commander Noor Azreyanti Ishak said they were alerted about the incident by the Malaysian Marine Department (JLM).
Noor Azreyanti said they were told that the ferry from Langkawi island to Kuala Kedah was stuck in a mudbank some 0.8 nautical miles from the estuary.
“A total of 511 passengers were on the Express Bahagia 168 ferry when it ran aground due to low tide.“MMEA’s Perkasa 1224 boat was immediately deployed to ensure the safety of the passengers and assist JLM,” she said in a statement here yesterday, as reported by Bernama.
She said the ferry was finally towed to the jetty at 11.15pm and the operation ended at about midnight.
Also involved in the operation were the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Health Department, Civil Defence Force and the Volunteer Corps Department, she added.
Meanwhile, Noor Azreyanti urged the public to contact the Kuala Kedah Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 04-731 0579 or MERS 999 in case of an emergency at sea.
