11 People Are Dead and Dozens Missing After a Rohingya Migrant Boat Sinks Near the Thai-Malaysia Border
Eleven Rohingya refugees have been confirmed dead, with dozens more missing following the capsizing of an overcrowded boat near the Thailand-Malaysia border during their attempt to escape.
Authorities reported on Monday that at least 11 Rohingya refugees have been confirmed dead following the sinking of a wooden boat carrying approximately 70 passengers near the Thailand–Malaysia maritime border. Search operations are ongoing as many individuals remain unaccounted for, and optimism for additional survivors diminishes.
The victims belonged to Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, a group that often embarks on perilous sea journeys to escape conflict and poverty in Rakhine State or the overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.
According to Malaysia’s maritime agency, 13 survivors, primarily Rohingya, have been rescued to date. Thai authorities recovered four bodies, including two children, which adds to the seven discovered by Malaysian teams.
Air and sea assets from both countries have been deployed in a joint operation near Langkawi Island, which is a common landing point for Rohingya boats. “Our collaboration with Thai agencies is robust, facilitating quicker information exchange and broader search coverage,” stated Romli Mustafa, director of Malaysia’s maritime agency in Kedah and Perlis.
Officials indicated that the unfortunate boat probably set off from the border of Myanmar and Bangladesh approximately two weeks prior, with some passengers allegedly transferring to another vessel a few days before the sinking occurred.
Motivated by oppression, scarcity, and limited prospects, countless Rohingya persist in jeopardizing their lives on the ocean. As reported by UNHCR, more than 5,100 Rohingya have undertaken these journeys from January to early November 2025, with close to 600 individuals reported dead or missing.
Myanmar’s Rakhine State continues to bear the marks of prolonged conflict and ethnic strife, especially following the military crackdown in 2017 that compelled more than 1.3 million Rohingya to seek refuge in Bangladesh.
In the face of global apprehension, secure migration pathways continue to be limited, forcing numerous Rohingya to rely on smugglers and perilous waters in their urgent attempts to arrive in Malaysia or Indonesia.
