Langkawi-bound tourists faced major delays after severe thunderstorms and rough sea conditions forced ferries to return to their terminals, affecting over a thousand passengers.
According to Sinar Harian, one ferry departing from Kuala Perlis with 567 passengers ran aground on sandbanks just 0.5 nautical miles from its starting point.
Strong win blown the vessel off course
Baharin Baharom, the general manager of Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd, explained that strong winds had blown the vessel off course, causing it to become stuck.
“All passengers are safe, but we must wait for the tide to come in at 8 PM to transfer them to another ferry,” Baharin said.
In a related incident, three ferries carrying 679 passengers heading to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah were forced to turn back due to the intense thunderstorms. Baharin assured that all affected passengers received refunds and many rescheduled their trips.
Resumed journey to Langkawi
Meanwhile, it was reported that the ferry stranded near Kuala Perlis resumed its journey to Langkawi at 9:05 PM once conditions improved.
Despite the rough weather, ferry services from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah continued as planned, with over 2,800 passengers successfully making their way to their destinations.
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