At Least 13 Dead as Boat Carrying Migrants Capsizes Near Thailand-Malaysia Waters

Authorities in Malaysia and Thailand have recovered at least 13 bodies while searching for survivors after a boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized near Thailand’s Tarutao Island, officials confirmed on Monday.

The vessel, believed to be carrying around 70 migrants—many from Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya community attempting to reach Malaysia—went down four days ago. Police said the migrants were part of a larger group of approximately 300 people who had been divided across at least two boats.

Search-and-rescue efforts are concentrated near Tarutao, just north of Malaysia’s Langkawi Island resort. Romli Mustafa, director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in the northern states of Kedah and Perlis, reported that seven bodies recovered so far have been identified as Rohingya.

“Thai authorities are also conducting operations and have found six bodies,” Romli said during a news conference. “We expect to find more victims today,” he added, noting that ocean currents could carry additional bodies into Malaysian waters.

AFP journalists in Langkawi witnessed at least two more bodies brought ashore on Monday, though it was unclear if these were included in the official count.

Romli confirmed that at least 12 vessels are involved in the search across an area of approximately 250 square nautical miles—roughly the size of Singapore—and that the search grid would continue to expand.