Kemaman: Two fishermen remain missing after their boat sank during a storm 27.9 nautical miles off Kemaman on Wednesday, as search and rescue (SAR) operations entered a fourth day.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kemaman Maritime Zone director, Maritime Commander Abdul Halim Hamzah, stated that the search today covered 224.40 square nautical miles, but no new leads were found. He mentioned that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deployed the KM Redang vessel, while the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) used an AW139 helicopter for the operation.

"The operation is assisted by three local fishing boats around the incident site. A total of 49 personnel from the MMEA, JBPM, and local fishermen are involved in the SAR operation," he said in a statement today.

In the Wednesday incident, a fishing boat operated by skipper Azan Muda, 68, with crew members Nordin Mohammad, 61, and Mahadi Jusoh, 51, sank during a storm at 12.30 am. Nordin's son, Muhammad Idham Hafiz, 23, said the family remains hopeful that his father and Azan will be found safe. Mahadi was rescued by other fishermen in Kemaman waters at 10.30 am on Thursday.