China is calling for the resumption of search efforts for the missing tourists and a fair investigation into the tragedy. (Photo : Getty Images)
Malaysian authorities announced on Tuesday that it would continue its search for the five missing Chinese tourists and a crewman from a tour boat that sank in rough waters near Sabah on Saturday night.
Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, director general of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, said the operation will cover approximately 3,000 square nautical miles using planes and ships from the agency as well as those from Malaysian navy and air force.
The neighboring kingdom of Brunei also sent two aircraft to help in the search effort, he added.
The catamaran, which carried 28 Chinese tourists and three crew members, lost contact with maritime authorities after it left Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, for the resort island of Pulau Mengalum 60 kilometers to the west on Saturday.
Officials said the boat was brought down by heavy waves and the tourists, tied together in life jackets, were swept away by the current. They were found by Malaysian tugboats and fishing vessels after being afloat for over 30 hours.
Aside from the six missing, three tourists were confirmed dead on Sunday while 22 people, including the boat's skipper and another crew member, were rescued.
The survivors were flown to Kota Kinabalu for medical treatment. All were sunburned and dehydrated but in stable condition, according to media reports.
One of the rescued tourists, Fan Lixia, said she and other passengers held onto the body of a dead friend while treading in cold water.
"If we were found any later, I don't think I would have survived," she told reporters at a hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
"My friend died. We dragged his body around for half a day, but we couldn't manage any more so we had to let it go."
Another survivor, Yang Yaoru, said their collective will kept them alive.
Yang, who was with her mother, said the survivors huddled together for warmth, shared what little food they had, and urged one other to stay alive.
"If I had died, my mother couldn't have survived by herself ... I must bring my mother home," the 24-year-old Yang told Chinese broadcaster CCTV.
Thousands of Chinese flock to the Mengalum island resort during the Chinese New Year. China is one of Malaysia's main sources of tourists.
China's Foreign Ministry on Monday urged the Malaysian government to continue its search and rescue efforts and conduct a probe on the incident.
"China hopes the Malaysian side will carry out a fair and objective investigation to find out the truth as early as possible, said ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.
The catamaran's owner and the two rescued crew members have been detained on accusations of negligence, according to Sabah police.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has also called for a detailed investigation into the cause of the sinking.
