Malaysia: Boat sinks off the coast, 66 people missing.

Malaysian authorities are currently actively investigating the cause of the accident.

On June 18, the Malaysian Maritime Authority reported that a wooden boat carrying 97 Indonesian migrants capsized and sank after leaving a port in western Malaysia.

A boat carrying illegal immigrants (illustrative photo) (Source: AFP)

According to AP, rescue teams have saved 31 people from the sunken boat and are actively searching for 66 people who are still missing.

According to a spokesperson for the Malaysian maritime authority, the wooden boat sank at midnight on June 17th in Port Klang, near Banting in the Malacca Strait, after attempting to leave Malaysia illegally. The majority of the passengers were women and children.

Muhammad Zuri, a Malaysian maritime official, told Reuters: "This is an illegal vessel; it is not permitted and is not qualified to undertake sea voyages."

According to Malaysian officials, those on board were all Indonesians working in Malaysia. They were trying to return home before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Malaysian authorities are currently actively investigating the cause of the accident.

Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, is a destination for many migrant workers from neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Accidents like these are not uncommon, as illegal immigrants are forced to choose risky routes to evade authorities.

Illegal immigrants entering Malaysia from Indonesia often choose to cross the Strait of Malacca, which is considered the world's most dangerous shipping route.

According to VOV