Five persons are feared missing after a barge capsized in Singapore waters about three nautical miles west off Horsburgh Lighthouse today.

    

In a statement, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said at around 8am, the authority received a report that a life raft with people onboard had been sighted southwest of Horsburgh Lighthouse.

    

Six crew members were subsequently rescued by a police coast guard patrol craft.

    

The rescued crew members reported that another five persons were missing, and that they were from a barge, Heng Hong 168, which had capsized.

The MPA is coordinating the search and rescue (SAR) operations, which involve assets for aerial and surface searches. It has also enlisted commercial divers to assist with the SAR operations.

    

It has issued navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to keep clear of the SAR area and to report any sighting of the missing persons.

    

The MPA is investigating the incident.

- Bernama