Police rescue 5 Australians, 2 Britons after boat capsizes in eastern Malaysia

Marine police rescued five Australian and two British tourists after their boat capsized early Tuesday in rough weather in eastern Malaysia, police said. Three Malaysians traveling with them were also rescued, but one died later.

Photo: Police rescue 5 Australians, 2 Britons after boat capsizes in eastern Malaysia

A local tour guide was still missing Tuesday.

The boat, carrying 11 people, went down between Libaran island and Sandakan on the east coast of Sabah state on Borneo island at midday, Sandakan police Superintendent Mohammed Zain Yacob told The Associated Press.

Seven foreign tourists five Australians and two Britons and three locals including a woman were rescued by marine police. The woman, who was from a nearby village, died shortly after being brought to shore, he said.

Marine police, coast guard and navy vessels were still continuing the search for the missing tour guide, he said.

The tourists were en route to Sandakan from a resort on Libaran island, a two-hour boat ride, when their boat was capsized by high waves, Mohammed Zain said.

He denied reports by the Australian government that one New Zealander was among those rescued.

"The search is still ongoing. We have advised tour operators to halt boat services for the time being as the weather is becoming worse," he added.

No other details were available, reports AP.

Sabah is popular among British and Australians for adventure tours, jungle hikes, diving and boat excursions.