ALOR SETAR: A boat carrying about 15 anglers capsized off Pulau Payar near Langkawi.

A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) spokesman said a distress call was received at 10.41pm Saturday evening over the incident.

An MMEA vessel, Pengawal 41, was despatched to the location at about 10 nautical miles south of Pulau Payar, to carry out search and rescue operations.

The operations continued Sunday morning with another two MMEA boats, two marine police vessels and a few fishing boats scouring the area.

The fate of the anglers, who are all locals, is still unknown.

Family members of the victims are at the MMEA Kuala Kedah base waiting for more news.-thestar