Eleven people have died and hundreds are missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized near the maritime border between Thailand and Malaysia. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate survivors and two other boats carrying refugees remain unaccounted for.
Boat Capsizes Near Thailand-Malaysia Border
According to Romli Mustafa, director of Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency in Kedah state, a boat carrying about 70 Rohingya refugees overturned near Tarutao Island, off the coast of Thailand near Langkawi, Malaysia. Seven bodies were immediately recovered, including five women and a young girl, with a total of eleven confirmed dead as rescue efforts continued. The incident occurred after the refugees fled Myanmar, escaping persecution and harsh conditions, particularly from the conflict-ridden Rakhine state.
Massive Search and Rescue Efforts Underway
Malaysian authorities, in coordination with Thai counterparts, deployed maritime and air assets to search an area spanning roughly 583 square kilometres. They have rescued 13 survivors so far—11 Rohingya and 2 Bangladeshis—and continue to look for hundreds more. As reported by Kah state chief Adli Abu, the refugees initially departed Myanmar aboard a large vessel but were transferred to three smaller boats of about 100 passengers each to evade detection upon nearing Malaysia. Two of these smaller boats remain missing, heightening fears that hundreds of refugees could be lost at sea.
Background of Rohingya Plight
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, have faced decades of persecution and violence, including a brutal military crackdown in 2017 that displaced hundreds of thousands. Many fled to Bangladesh, residing in overcrowded refugee camps, while others embark on risky sea journeys to seek safety and better living conditions in Malaysia and Indonesia. Data from the UN Refugee Agency indicates over 5,100 Rohingya attempted such sea crossings in 2025 alone, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing.
Human Trafficking and Perilous Sea Routes
Romli Mustafa warned that organised syndicates exploit these desperate migrants, charging up to $3,500 per person to facilitate the dangerous voyage via human trafficking networks. The vessels often become overcrowded, and the refugees face extreme risks from rough seas and lack of proper safety measures.
Statements from Authorities and Witnesses
Kedah police chief, Adli Abu Shah, told local media that the sinking happened around three days ago and that two other boats from the group remain unlocatable.
“We requested the Maritime Enforcement and Police to initiate search-and-rescue missions to find the missing boats and survivors,” he said.
Thai authorities recovered four bodies, including two children, adding to the seven found by Malaysian agencies, raising the death toll to eleven. Malaysian maritime director Romli Mustafa expressed optimism about the ongoing search aided by air and sea patrols coordinated closely with Thailand, emphasizing the strong cross-border cooperation.
Impact and Ongoing Concerns
The tragedy highlights the continued vulnerability of Rohingya refugees, who risk their lives fleeing persecution and intolerable living conditions. The incident also underscores the urgent need for regional cooperation and international support to address the plight of these stateless people and disrupt human trafficking operations in Southeast Asia.
Al Jazeera reported on the capsizing and rescue efforts with statements from Romli Mustafa and Adli Abu. Reuters detailed the numbers involved and ongoing uncertainty around missing vessels. BBC emphasized the rescue count and the humanitarian backdrop to the Rohingya crisis. DW provided information on the scale of missing migrants and risks posed by trafficking. Channel News Asia focused on the death toll increase and Malaysia-Thailand joint search efforts. Additional updates and data were compiled from Radio Pakistan, Times of India, and New York Times reports to ensure comprehensive coverage of the incident and regional context.
