Langkawi: The death toll from the boat capsize in the Malaysia-Thailand border waters has risen to 20, following the recovery of four more bodies this afternoon.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Kedah and Perlis director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), First Admiral Maritime Romli Mustafa, said fourteen survivors have been located to date, including one rescued on the coast of Tanjung Chincin today. He reported that a woman was the first of the four bodies found near Pulau Intan Kecil, after a report from a member of the public to the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre.

The sequence of discoveries continued with the Malaysian Marine Department reporting a male body washed ashore west of Tanjung Belua at 1.41 pm. Shortly thereafter, the KM SIANGIN detected another male body 1.6 nautical miles offshore. The Royal Malaysian Navy made the final recovery of the day at 4.13 pm, locating a third male body one nautical mile from the coast.

The operation, now in its third day, has accounted for 14 survivors, made up of 12 men and two women. The 20 deceased include seven men, nine women, two boys, and two girls. The search efforts are persisting with multi-agency assets focusing on areas where currents and weather patterns are likely to carry victims towards the shore.

First Admiral Romli urged members of the public who discover any victims to contact the Malaysia Maritime Operation Centre for Kedah and Perlis at 04-966 2750 or the MERS 999 emergency line. Today's operation was concluded at 7.30 pm and is set to resume tomorrow morning.