According to Sinar Harian, a ferry from Kuala Perlis with 567 passengers ran aground on sandbanks just 0.5 nautical miles from the terminal it came from.

Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Baharin Baharom said strong winds had pushed the ferry off course towards the sandbanks.

Baharin said all passengers were safe but the company had to wait for the tide to come in at 8pm tonight to transfer them to another vessel.

He also said three ferries carrying 679 passengers had to head back to the Kuala Kedah ferry terminal due to the thunderstorms.

Baharin said all passengers had been refunded their ticket costs, and some had rescheduled their trips.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the ferry that ran aground continued its journey to Langkawi at 9.05pm tonight.

Baharin said three ferry services from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis tonight at 8pm, 8.05pm and 8.30pm also continued as scheduled, carrying a total of 1,547 passengers.

“Likewise the ferry journeys from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah, Kedah, at 7.30pm and 7.35pm this evening, which carried 1,300 passengers in total, also proceeded as usual,” he said.