Overloaded boat capsizes in Malaysia

At least 23 people were feared missing while 181 managed to escape to safety when an overloaded express boat capsized in Malaysia's Borneo state of Sarawak Tuesday.

The express boat sunk in the morning while travelling in the Rajang river, police said, as search and rescue operations for the missing was ongoing, Xinhua reported.

Local district council member Betek Lahang was quoted by state news agency Bernama as saying that many passengers, most of whom are timber and oil palm plantation workers, were heading home for a local festival over the weekend.

Initial investigations suggested that there were more than 200 passenger on board with a capacity of 67 seated passengers, police said.