The search and rescue operation has been stepped up to look for two teenagers who were reported missing while bathing in Pantai Tok Bali here since Sunday.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) District 10 director, Captain (Maritime) Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the operation which entered the third day yesterday involved 140 personnel from the MMEA, police, Civil Defence Force and the Fire and Rescue Department.

"Among assets mobilised included a ship, six boats and two jet ski," he said when met at the location of the incident Tuesday.

In the 4.13pm incident, two teenagers identified as Ahmad Haziem Anizam, 14, and his friend, Amir Azfa Rafar, 13, from Selising here were feared drowned while bathing at Pantai Tok Bali.

Two of their friends, Muhammad Firdaus Mustafa, 16, of Kampung Taweh, Gaal here, and Amir Shahir Zakima, 13, of Kampung Nering here managed to swim to safety.

The four came to the beach for a picnic before the incident occurred following a big wave.

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Nurul Hizam said despite the rough sea conditions, the search would be expanded to more than three kilometres from the beach of Tok Bali while monitoring would be conducted on the beach of Pasir Puteh as well as Bachok and Kuala Besut in Terengganu.

He said various methods had been deployed by rescue teams including using a trawler in areas near the beach but the two teenagers have yet to be found.

The family members of the two missing youth were still waiting at a special tent set up by the search teams.

The father of Amir Azfa, Rafar Mamat, 53, hoped their son and his friend would be found soon.

"The incident is very shocking and sad as I was working in Songkla," the petroleum company employee said. -- Bernama