Six Missing After Tourist Boat Sinks

Six people are missing after a tourist boat sank off Malaysia on Saturday.

Another 23 people and two crew members have been rescued from the catamaran which left Kota Kinabalu in Sabah heading for the popular tourist island Pulau Mengalum.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said it received a distress call from the boat, but contact was lost soon after.

Most of those on board were Chinese tourists, and most were rescued by nearby fishermen. The master and one of the crew were found after swimming to safety on a nearby island. According to the master, the ship was “broken” after being hit by waves.

The search for survivors is being hampered by the adverse weather conditions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded all-out search and rescue efforts, reports news agency Xinhua.