Boat Carrying Rohingya Migrants Capsizes Near Malaysia, Hundreds Unaccounted For.

A boat carrying around 300 Rohingya migrants from Myanmar’s Rakhine state sank near the Malaysia-Thailand border, resulting in at least seven confirmed deaths, with hundreds still missing. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) reported that 13 survivors were rescued off Langkawi Island after the vessel, which had set sail from Buthidaung three days earlier, capsized near Tarutao Island in Thailand.

Initially, the migrants were aboard a large ship but were moved to three smaller boats, each containing about 100 people, to avoid detection as they approached Malaysia. The situation for the other two boats remains unclear. The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority, have historically faced violence and discrimination, prompting many to flee to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Bangladesh in search of safety. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 5,100 Rohingya have attempted perilous sea journeys since January 2025, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing during these dangerous escapes.

Ongoing rescue operations are focusing on a 170-square-nautical-mile area near Langkawi, utilizing air and sea resources, and are expected to continue for up to a week. The Malaysian government has urged regional authorities to enhance rescue efforts to prevent further tragedies, while the United Nations has called for a coordinated regional response to tackle the underlying issues prompting the Rohingya’s dangerous journeys and ensure their safety.

This tragic incident underscores the humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya and highlights the critical need for international cooperation to address their plight and the dangers they face in seeking refuge.