2 Chinese rescued more than 50 hours after dredger capsized

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two Chinese sailors have been rescued more than 50 hours after their sand dredger capsized off Malaysia's southern coast, a maritime official said Saturday. The Chinese sand-dredger had capsized off the country's southern coast Wednesday, killing a crew member and leaving over a dozen others missing. Divers heard knocking sounds and found the two sailors in the ship's engine room on Friday, apparently trapped in an air pocket that had kept them alive after the vessel overturned on Wednesday, said coast guard official Sanifah Yusof. Image: MMEA/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

The rescue has fuelled hopes that others may still be alive and Mr Sanifah said that air is being pumped into the ship to help anyone who may still be in there. (AP Photo/Chong)

Sanifah says rescuers also discovered a body floating near the vessel and two more, including a woman inside the ship, on Saturday. He said this brought the death toll to four and left nine others, including a Malaysian and an Indonesian, unaccounted for. Advertisement

Image: A team of divers joined the rescue efforts

Four people are known to have died and nine others are still missing after the dredger went down near the state of Johor.
Two men are rescued from a capsized dredger off Malaysia after 50 hours in an air pocket in the engine room. The death toll so far is nine, with rescue efforts underway to search for more survivors.