At least 13 people have died after a boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized near Thailand’s Tarutao Island, officials from Malaysia and Thailand confirmed on Monday. The vessel, carrying around 70 migrants believed to be from Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya community, overturned in rough waters four days ago. Authorities fear the number of casualties may rise as search and rescue operations continue across Malaysian and Thai waters.
Romli Mustafa, director of Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency in Kedah and Perlis, said rescuers have recovered seven bodies so far, all identified as Rohingya. Thai authorities have found six additional bodies, bringing the total death toll to at least 13. He added that currents could carry more victims south into Malaysian waters, where operations are being expanded. “We expect to find more victims today,” Mustafa stated, confirming that 12 rescue vessels are scouring an area covering about 250 square nautical miles.
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Meanwhile, Malaysian and Thai police confirmed that at least 13 survivors have been rescued, including both Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals. Langkawi police chief Khairul Azhar Nuruddin said six of the deceased were Rohingya women, while one was a young Rohingya girl. Authorities believe the migrants were part of a larger group of nearly 300 people who left Myanmar two weeks ago on two separate boats, one of which remains missing.
The search efforts are now focused near Langkawi Island, where several bodies have been recovered. AFP journalists reported seeing at least two more bodies brought ashore on Monday, though it was unclear if they were part of the confirmed toll. Officials say strong currents and unpredictable weather are making rescue operations difficult, but efforts are ongoing to locate survivors or additional victims from the sunken vessel.
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Malaysia, a relatively prosperous nation, has long been a destination for migrants from poorer parts of Asia seeking better opportunities. However, human trafficking syndicates often exploit these desperate journeys, charging migrants up to $3,500 for dangerous sea crossings. “These syndicates are increasingly active in using high-risk routes, putting lives at risk for profit,” Mustafa warned. In December 2021, more than 20 migrants drowned off the Malaysian coast in one of the deadliest incidents in recent years, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya and other displaced communities.