AMERICAN DIVER MISSING AFTER YACHT SANK

KUANTAN (Malaysia), May 25 (Bernama) -- An American diver is missing while
four others were injured when the yacht they were sailing on was hit by an
unknown vessel about 31 nautical miles off Kuantan Port in Malaysia's east coast
state of Pahang, around 4am Sunday.

Kuantan police chief ASP Mohd Jasmani Yusoff said the missing victim was
62-year-old Kenneth Wayne.

Wayne's Irish friend James Edward, 27, and a Thai cook, Butsara Tom Tantak
Suwan, 31, sustained severe injuries and were currently warded at Tengku
Ampuan Afzan Hospital.

The captain of the yacht, known only as Anon and a crewman, Papop, both from
Thailand, suffered minor injuries.

The victims were rescued from the sea by a local fishing boat a few hours
after the collision.

"The Kuantan police control centre received the report on the incident at
about 10.45am. They were informed by the Kuantan Marine operations team that a
fishermen's boat had just rescued the four victims," he told reporters here.

Mohd Jasmani said the initial investigation revealed that the yacht left
Phuket, Thailand on May 16 on a trip to Langkawi, Singapore and Tioman Island.

"The yacht entered Kuantan waters at about 4am Sunday to enable the diver
to take underwater pictures around the diving areas."

He said upon reaching the location, an unknown vessel hit the yacht and sped
off, leaving the boat capsized.

Mohd Jasmani said a search and rescue operation to find the missing victim
was being mounted by the Kuantan Marine team, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement
Agency and Royal Malaysian Navy.
-- BERNAMA