indonesia-boat
Boats carrying goods and passengers are seen on the Batang Hari River covered in a thick haze in Jambi on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Sept. 25, 2015, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. REUTERS/Wahdi Septiawan/Antara Foto

Malaysian authorities on Tuesday launched a search for a boat carrying up to 35 people, after 13 bodies washed up on a beach in the southern state of Johor.

Police discovered the bodies at a beach in near the town of Bandar Penawar earlier in the day.

District police chief Rahmat Othman said the boat had come from Indonesia and was carrying illegal migrants. Up to 35 people were believed to have been on the boat, police said.

Authorities in Jakarta said the boat had capsized after being hit by strong waves.

"ID cards from Indonesia were found," on the 13 victims, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir said in a text message.

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