Rohingya boat sinks near Malaysia, hundreds missing

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Nov 2025 14:33

Hundreds are missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees sank near the Malaysia-Thailand border, with search-and-rescue efforts still underway.

Listen

This photo released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency shows migrants handed over to authorities after they were rescued by a sailboat, in waters off the northern resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Saturday, November 8, 2025. (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency via AP)

Hundreds are feared missing after a vessel carrying mostly Rohingya refugees sank near the Malaysia-Thailand border, Malaysian authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The boat, which departed from Buthidaung in Myanmar, was carrying around 300 people before it capsized in waters near Langkawi.

First Admiral Romli Mustafa, maritime director for the northern Malaysian states of Kedah and Perlis, said only 10 survivors and one deceased passenger had been found so far. Search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing, three days after the reported sinking.

Among the survivors were three Myanmar men, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man, according to Bernama, citing Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah. The recovered body was identified as that of a Rohingya woman.

Rescue teams believe more victims could still be at sea, prompting continued operations near Langkawi, a known transit point for refugee and migrant routes.

Search continues for hundreds still missing

According to officials, passengers initially boarded a large vessel in Myanmar. As they neared Malaysian waters, they were ordered to transfer to three smaller boats, each carrying about 100 people, in an apparent effort to avoid detection.

The boat that sank was one of the smaller crafts. The status of the other two vessels remains unknown, and maritime authorities have not ruled out further casualties.

Ongoing persecution drives Rohingya to flee

The majority-Muslim Rohingya community has long faced persecution in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and often labeled as illegal migrants from South Asia. Fleeing violence and systemic discrimination, many undertake dangerous sea journeys in hopes of reaching countries like Malaysia or Indonesia.

The region has seen periodic tragedies as smugglers overcrowd unsafe vessels, and governments crack down on undocumented migration.