MIRI: One of 39 crewmen is missing after a fire that broke out on an offshore drilling-vessel near Miri in the South China Sea on Tuesday morning (April 17).

A search and rescue operation is underway to find the missing Malaysian crewman of MV Geos, owned by a KL-based company which is a subcontractor of Petronas, said MMEA (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency) Miri chief Mohd Fauzi Othman.

There were 39 workers on board comprising 33 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Thai national.

"They jumped off the ship during the fire. All 38 workers were rescued but one remains missing.

"Of the 38 rescued, two suffered burns. They have been sent to the Miri Hospital," he said

The ship was five nautical miles (9.3km) from Miri

Petronas has confirmed the incident that happened at 3.15am.