SATUN: Four Thai nationals died on board a Malaysian fishing boat that sank in rough seas off Langkawi island, police said on Monday.
Banjerd Manawet, the Marine Police Division 9 chief, said the PSF 4674 fishing boat capsized west of the Malaysian island, about 15 nautical miles south of Li Pae island in Satun province.
Pol Lt Col Banjerd said Malaysian authorities found the bodies of four Thai crew members inside the boat when it was towed to the shore in Perlis state on Friday. They were identified as Ameen Phramphan, Veera Suwannawat, Sa-ard Intarak and Vorakan Ouankong.
Pol Col Banjerd said the four were sleeping when rough seas battered the vessel.
The bodies were stored at a hospital in Perlis while Thai authorities arranged their return for religious ceremonies in Thailand, he added.
The tragedy came to light after Sunnatha Piemsa contacted the Marine Police office on Monday to ask for help locating her brother Ameen after she heard that the ship on which he was working had sunk.