Vietnamese crew members of cargo vessels killed possibly due to toxic gas inhalation

KOTA TINGGI: Three Vietnamese crew members of the cargo vessel MV Hi Ram were killed possibly due to toxic gas inhalation while two others were rescued by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Pengerang waters on July 12.
Tanjung Sedili maritime enforcement chief Capt Amran Daud said in a statement today that the enforcement unit received a distress call from the vessel at 9.20am on July 12.
"A patrol boat was immediately dispatched to search for the vessel and after about an hour they found the vessel 4.1 nautical miles south-east of Tanjung Penyusup, Kota Tinggi," Amran said, adding the two crew members of the Vietnamese registered vessel looked sick.
"When interviewing the crew, we were informed the three deceased had worked in an isolated room in the vessel. They suddenly fell sick and died," he said.
The two sick crew members and the three bodies were sent to Kota Tinggi Hospital.
The dead crew were also Vietnamese.
The vessel was on its way to India from Bintulu Sarawak, and arrived in Pengerang for bunkering.
The deceased were identified as Pham Van Quy, 39. Nguyen Dinh Hung, 32. Nguyen Duy Thai, 50.
The captain of the vessel, Nguyen Van Guang, 45, and crew member Luc Duc, 32, are reported to be in stable condition at Kota Tinggi Hospital.