At least nine people have died and 27 are missing after a boat overloaded with Indonesians capsized off Malaysia.
Officials said the passengers, believed to be illegal migrant workers, were returning home to Indonesia’s Aceh province for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
All 60 of the rescued passengers were arrested under immigration laws.
The boat was believed to be carrying 97 passengers, far exceeding its maximum capacity of 50 people.
“Rough seas are making our rescue operation difficult but we will continue the search,” said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency official Mohamad Hambali Yaakup.
He added that the boat sank not far from shore and raised hopes that the missing passengers could have swum to safety.
Another maritime official said said more sea vessels and divers were deployed in the search on Thursday.
Authorities are also investigating why the boat sank.
Survivors said the boat was leaking, which could mean it was hit by an object.
The wooden vessel sank about midnight (16:00 Tuesday) off Port Klang, near Banting in the Strait of Malacca.
Thousands of Indonesians work illegally in plantations and other industries in Malaysia. They often risk dangerous sea journeys to return home.
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