KUALA LUMPUR (WAM), 2nd May 2023 — Malaysian maritime authorities have issued a statement stating that search efforts are underway to find three crew members who went missing after a Gabon registered oil tanker caught on fire off the southern coast of Malaysia.

According to CNN the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said that it received an alert Monday at 4pm local time of a burning tanker, approximately 37.5 nautical mile northeast of the coastal area of Tanjung Sedili, in the state Johor.

MMEA reported that the tanker caught fire while sailing from China to Singapore, with 28 crewmembers.

MMEA said that a naval patrol boat had been dispatched on the scene to save those aboard. MMEA Director First Admiral Nurul Zakaria stated that 23 crew members had been rescued by two nearby ships.

He added, “We managed to save two crew members but three remain missing.” “Ongoing operations include investigations to determine if the three crew members abandoned the tanker or jumped into the sea, or were trapped.”