Barge capsizes in Singapore waters, 9 remain missing

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said it received report on Wednesday afternoon that a barge had capsized in Singapore waters, with nine people still missing. Two crew members were rescued, the authority said, adding that it has been coordinating a search and rescue operation. The authority said it received the report that the barge Guo Liang 677 had capsized in Singapore waters about 7 nautical miles north of the Horsburgh Lighthouse, which is located on an island at the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. One of the crew members, who was rescued by a Police Coast Guard patrol craft in the area, said that 10 others were missing. The authority later received report that another crew member had been rescued by a vessel in the vicinity. It said that the search and rescue operations involve assets for aerial and surface searches, and that commercial divers were also called to help. The authority said it is investigating the incident. It has issued navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to keep clear of the search and rescue area and to report any sightings of the missing persons.