Rohingya Boat Sinks Near Thai-Malaysian Border; Hundreds Missing, Seven Dead

Rohingya Boat Sinks Near Thai-Malaysian Border; Hundreds Missing, Seven Dead
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A boat carrying members of the Rohingya community from Myanmar has sunk near the Thai-Malaysian border, leaving hundreds missing, seven confirmed dead, and 13 rescued, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said on Sunday, according to Reuters.

Rescue teams are searching an area of about 170 square nautical miles near Langkawi Island, where the vessel went down on Saturday. The boat, carrying around 300 passengers, had departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State three days earlier, said Romli Mustafa, head of the maritime agency in the region.

Authorities believe the group initially boarded a larger vessel in Myanmar before being ordered to transfer to three smaller boats, each carrying roughly 100 people, to evade detection as they approached Malaysian waters, according to Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah, cited by Bernama. The fate of the other two boats remains unclear, and search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing.

The Rohingya Muslim minority has faced years of persecution, conflict, and displacement in Rakhine State. Many have sought refuge in Bangladesh’s crowded camps, while others risk dangerous sea journeys to reach Southeast Asia. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that more than 5,100 Rohingya attempted such voyages between January and early November 2025, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing.