Tragedy at Sea: 7 Dead, 13 Rescued as Myanmar Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Malaysian Waters

The vessel had departed from Myanmar carrying approximately 300 individuals. (Representational)

Kuala Lumpur:

Malaysian rescue teams recovered seven bodies of Myanmar migrants and rescued 13 survivors from a capsized vessel that was carrying dozens of passengers, officials announced on Sunday.

According to First Admiral Romli Mustafa from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, initial investigations revealed that the boat had departed from Buthidaung, a town in Myanmar's Rakhine state, with approximately 300 people aboard.

Both police and maritime officials stated that upon approaching Malaysian waters, passengers were believed to have been transferred to three smaller vessels. One of these boats reportedly sank near Thailand's Tarutao Island on Thursday, with some victims drifting to Malaysia's northern resort island of Langkawi, according to authorities.

Officials noted that the exact time and location of the incident remain unclear, as does the status of the other two vessels.

Local media reports quoted Kedah state police chief Adzli Abu Shah confirming that some of the rescued individuals were Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, a group that has faced decades of persecution. Romli issued a warning that transnational criminal organizations are increasingly exploiting migrants through dangerous sea routes.

The maritime agency reported that rescue operations on Saturday recovered 10 migrants alive and one deceased woman from the sea. On Sunday, six additional bodies were discovered alongside three survivors. The agency has expanded its search area with operations set to continue on Monday.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has called upon regional governments to enhance search and rescue capabilities and implement measures to prevent such tragedies.

UNHCR spokesperson Diogo Alcantara reported that approximately 5,200 Rohingya refugees have undertaken hazardous maritime journeys this year alone, with nearly 600 reported missing or dead.

In January, Malaysian authorities refused entry to two boats carrying nearly 300 individuals believed to be Rohingya Muslims attempting illegal entry. Malaysia represents a preferred destination due to its predominantly Malay Muslim population.

While Malaysia has previously accepted Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds, the country has attempted to limit their numbers due to concerns about mass migration by sea. Currently, around 117,670 Rohingya refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia, constituting approximately 59% of the country's total refugee population.