Illegal Immigrants Die After Boat Capsizes

A boat capsized with 48 Indonesian illegal immigrants to Malaysia aboard. At least six of them drowned and 10 were missing Wednesday.

Singapore police rescued 17 of the immigrants and Malaysian police arrested 15 more they found hiding in a mangrove swamp. Six bodies were floating near the swamp, said marine police Superintendent Jemaat Omar.

The boat left Batam Island in Indonesia on Saturday and capsized Sunday night in the Straits of Nenas in Singapore, Omar said.

More than 1.3 million foreigners live in Malaysia, mostly Indonesians who seek work - legally or illegally - in Malaysia’s booming economy.

Hundreds of Indonesians have drowned in the sea that separates their country from Malaysia while on their way to look for work.