Shipwrecked boat in Malaysia not designed for tourism
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Rescuers search for missing Chinese tourists off Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Jan. 30, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

The boat that sank in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Saturday leaving at least three dead was not designed for tourism but for research purposes, reported China Central Television (CCTV).

The designer of the boat was quoted as saying on Thursday that it was designed to carry a maximum of 12 people only.

But at the time the boat sank it was carrying 31 people -- 28 Chinese tourists and three crew members.

According to an interview by CCTV with Daniel Doughty, the designer of the boat, the boat was previously used for ocean research in shallow waters.

Daniel Doughty also explained that boats used for carrying tourists should have a stability assessment indicating the number of the loaded persons and its stability to withstand sea waves. However, the boat involved in the accident had never undergone a stability assessment.

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang visits the Chinese tourists that were rescued in the shipwreck accident in Malaysia. [Photo: Xinhua]

The boat went down in turbulent waters while heading for the island of Mengalum on January 29. Of the 31 people on board, 22 people were saved, while three Chinese tourists were confirmed dead. Another five Chinese tourists and one crew member are still missing.

Huang Huikang, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, visited the rescued tourists and urged continued rescue efforts for the six still missing.

Staff from China's National Tourism Administration said that rescue work, treatment and psychological counselling for those rescued are being done in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that they will make every effort to find the cause of the accident as soon as possible.

The China National Tourism Administration also urged tourism sectors and enterprises to ensure the safety of tourists.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan