Authorities say rescue operations are below technique to find survivors on a ship that sunk, with two others lacking.
Printed On 9 Nov 2025
One physique has been discovered and dozens of others are lacking after a ship carrying about 90 individuals sank close to the Thailand-Malaysia border, officers mentioned.
The Malaysian maritime authority on Sunday mentioned at the least 10 survivors had been discovered, whereas the standing of two different boats carrying an analogous variety of individuals stays unknown.
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The incident is believed to have occurred close to Tarutao Island, simply north of the favored Malaysian resort island of Langkawi.
“A ship carrying 90 individuals is believed to have capsized,” native police chief Adzli Abu Shah informed reporters, including that rescue operations had been below technique to find the survivors.
Among the many survivors discovered within the waters had been three Myanmar nationals, two Rohingya refugees, and a Bangladeshi man, whereas the physique was that of a Rohingya lady, state media company Bernama reported, quoting Abu Shah.
The Malaysia-bound individuals initially boarded a big vessel, however, as they neared the border, they had been instructed to switch onto three smaller boats, every carrying about 100 individuals, to keep away from detection by the authorities, the police chief was quoted as saying.
Reporting from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride mentioned a significant search and rescue operation was below means.
“The authorities consider that the migrants set off round three days in the past from part of the coast in Myanmar – they’re regarded as primarily from the Rohingya minority,” he mentioned.
“This can be a well-used maritime route crusing down the coast of Thailand, heading in the direction of Malaysia the place they’ll hope to start out a brand new life, the place typically they’ll have relations and acquaintances who’re already right here in Malaysia.”
Harmful crossings
Malaysia is dwelling to thousands and thousands of migrants and refugees from different elements of Asia – lots of them undocumented, working in industries together with building and agriculture.
Members of the primarily Muslim Rohingya minority periodically flee predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, the place they’re seen as overseas interlopers from South Asia, denied citizenship, and subjected to abuse. Almost 1,000,000 Rohingya refugees dwell in cramped camps throughout southern Bangladesh.
Myanmar has additionally been mired in civil war fought between the army and a number of armed opposition teams since a 2021 coup, when the army seized energy from the elected authorities of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Most of the refugees attempt maritime crossings to comparatively prosperous regional nations equivalent to Malaysia and Thailand, facilitated by human trafficking syndicates. However the journeys typically flip hazardous, resulting in frequent capsizing.
In one of many worst incidents in December 2021, greater than 20 individuals drowned in a number of capsizing incidents off the Malaysian shoreline.
“In response to the authorities, the scenario in Myanmar – with the elevated instability and likewise the continued civil struggle – is forcing individuals to take ever extra determined maritime journeys to attempt to begin a brand new life,” mentioned McBride.
“And as we’ve seen on this case, a few of these journeys ending with very tragic penalties.”
