A tragic maritime disaster has struck near the Thai-Malaysian border, where a boat carrying Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar capsized, killing at least seven people and leaving hundreds missing. Rescue operations are currently under way, with teams having recovered the bodies of five women and a girl, and rescuing 13 survivors so far. The vessel sank off Thailand’s Tarutao Island, close to Malaysia’s Langkawi Island, as part of a larger group of around 300 Rohingya who had departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State three days earlier.
Authorities reported that the refugees were instructed to transfer to three smaller boats, each carrying about 100 people, before reaching the border, two of which remain missing. Malaysian officials have launched extensive search-and-rescue efforts, covering an area of nearly 600 square kilometres. Images released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency show exhausted survivors being treated, underscoring the dire conditions faced by those attempting these perilous journeys.
Officials have warned that cross-border trafficking syndicates are increasingly exploiting vulnerable migrants, charging up to $3,500 per person to make the dangerous sea voyage. This route, frequently used by Rohingya seeking refuge in Malaysia, is notorious for its risks. Many of these refugees hope to reunite with family members already living in the country, which hosts millions of undocumented migrants working in sectors like agriculture and construction.
The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, continue to face systematic discrimination and violence, intensified by the country’s ongoing civil war following the 2021 military coup. As instability deepens, more people are resorting to dangerous maritime crossings in search of safety, however these are journeys that too often end in tragedy, as this latest incident devastatingly demonstrates.
Referencias:
Uras, U. (2025, November 9). Seven dead, hundreds missing after migrant boat sinks off Malaysian coast. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/9/one-dead-dozens-missing-after-migrant-boat-sinks-off-malaysia-coast