Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sabah and Labuan regional director First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the body of Azlan Moja, in his 30s, was found at 5.48pm about 1.9 nautical miles northwest of Kampung Titingan, Tawau.

“With this (recovery), there are four more individuals who are still missing, including two children, while four others have been found safe,” he told reporters here today.

He said the seven victims who died in the tragedy have been identified as Handra Hadda, 40; Taqi Muhd Zaki, seven; Mohd Faiz, four; Nurhafiza, two; Azlan, Nasir Selasa (ages not available) and Muhd Asraf (nine months).

Mohd Zubil said the SAR operation for the other four missing victims would continue today over a search area of 68 square nautical miles in the waters off Tawau.

On Tuesday, a speedboat carrying 15 Indonesians, including the skipper, capsized when it was believed to have been hit by strong waves five to 10 minutes after it departed the Tinagat Batu Payung jetty in Tawau.

The boat which began its journey at 5.30pm was heading to Sungai Nyamuk in Indonesia.

Mohd Zubil also said the SAR operation for five victims still missing after a catamaran capsized in the waters off Pulau Mengalum on Jan 28 would continue today, its 14th day.

“The SAR operations today involve 300 people with eight assets including seven ships and boats, and one aircraft. The operations will still cover 300 square nautical miles off Kota Kinabalu,” he said.

In the tragedy on Jan 28, a catamaran carrying 28 tourists from China and three crew members was believed to have capsized amid strong winds and waves while heading to Pulau Mengalum.

So far, 26 victims have been found, including four who died.

Mohd Zubil said to date, MMEA had not received any instructions to end the SAR mission.

“We will continue the operations until there is an instruction to stop it,” he said.