A boat carrying migrants sank near the border between Thailand and Malaysia, resulting in the death of one individual and leaving dozens missing. The incident occurred close to the southern Thai island of Ko Tarutao on Thursday, according to the Malaysian Coast Guard.
Ten people have been rescued following the incident, including three men from Myanmar, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man, as reported by Malaysia’s state-run agency Bernama. Additionally, the body of a Rohingya woman was recovered from the sea. Maritime officials believe that those affected may be part of a larger group of approximately 300 individuals who had been traveling on a larger vessel before splitting into smaller boats as they neared Malaysia.
Search operations for additional survivors are currently ongoing. The Rohingya community, predominantly Muslim, has been fleeing Myanmar, which is primarily Buddhist, in significant numbers over recent years due to persecution. Additionally, ongoing conflict and challenging conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh have compelled many vulnerable individuals to resort to overcrowded boats in search of a better life in Malaysia. Reports indicate that those seeking passage may have paid in excess of $3,000 (£2,300) for their journey.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7rp5zj484o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss