Hundreds missing in boat sinking off Malaysia-Thailand coast
Malaysian police confirmed on November 9 that a boat carrying undocumented migrants had sunk, killing at least one person and rescuing 10 others. Officials also said two other boats on the same journey were missing.
According to information from Kedah state police (Malaysia), the incident involved three boats, carrying a total of about 300 undocumented migrants.
One of the three boats, carrying about 90 people, is “believed to have capsized” three days ago. Rescuers have found 10 survivors and the body of a woman.
Kedah state police chief Adzli Abu Shah told local media that the remaining two boats, each carrying about 100 people, were still missing.
"So far, 11 people have been found, including one body," Kedah state maritime director Romli Mustafa said, warning that there could be more victims at sea.
The Malaysian maritime authority said the accident is believed to have occurred near Thailand's Tarutao island, just north of Malaysia's resort island of Langkawi.
According to Romli Mustafa, about 300 migrants left Buthidaung, Myanmar, on a large ship. However, when they neared the Malaysian coast, they were instructed to transfer to three smaller boats (each carrying about 100 people) to avoid detection by the authorities.
Mr Adzli Abu Shah confirmed that a large-scale search and rescue operation is underway to locate the two missing boats.
Sea routes in the region are often used by smuggling networks to reach countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. These journeys are dangerous, often using unsafe boats, and have resulted in several tragic shipwrecks.
