Kuala Lumpur: At least 13 Indonesian illegal immigrants drowned on Tuesday when their boat capsized off Malaysia’s state of Johor.

Strong winds and high waves caused the boat to overturn, Xinhua quoted a police official as saying.

A search-and-rescue operation was launched by the police which involved 16 marine police personnel and seven police personnel, Business Standard reported.

The police chief said the bodies of nine women and four men were found washed up on the beach.