13 bodies found washed ashore in Malaysia

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of January 26, Malaysian authorities said the country had begun searching for a boat believed to be carrying up to 35 people, after discovering 13 bodies drifting onto a beach in southern Johor state.

The body of a victim was brought ashore by a rescue ship in a shipwreck in Malaysia. Source: Internet

The state police chief, Rahmat Othman, said the boat came from Indonesia and was carrying illegal migrants. "We found Indonesian identification cards on the bodies of 13 victims," ​​said Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir.

The boat capsized after being hit by strong waves, according to authorities in Jakarta.

In September 2015, Malaysian police discovered a boat carrying at least 70 people had capsized off the country’s west coast, killing 50. The passengers were also believed to be Indonesian migrants.

Southeast Asia has recently witnessed a migrant crisis as thousands have ventured to Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in the region after Thailand launched an anti-human trafficking campaign.

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters)