Death toll from capsized boat with Myanmar migrants climbs to 27 as more bodies recovered

The death toll from a capsized boat carrying Rohingya migrants off the coasts of Malaysia and Thailand rose to 27 on Tuesday, as rescue operations continued in the waters between the two Southeast Asian nations.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officials reported recovering eight additional bodies off the northern coast of Langkawi island near the Thailand border. The latest discoveries bring Malaysia’s recovery count to 20 victims—seven men, nine women, and four children—along with 14 survivors. Authorities also located one additional survivor on Tuesday.

In neighboring Thailand, the Romsai Rescue Foundation confirmed that another body, believed to be a male Rohingya refugee, was discovered Tuesday afternoon in the southern Satun province’s waters. This latest recovery follows six bodies found in Thai waters on Sunday and Monday.

According to survivor accounts, approximately 70 people were aboard the ill-fated vessel when it capsized. The tragedy appears to be part of a larger trafficking operation, as officials believe the passengers had initially departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine state aboard a larger vessel carrying around 300 people.

“The passengers were split into three smaller boats as they approached Malaysian waters,” said a Malaysian maritime official who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation. “We believe one of these boats sank near Thailand’s Tarutao island last Thursday.”

The precise timing and exact location of the capsizing remain unclear. Authorities have yet to determine the fate of the other two boats and their passengers, raising concerns about the potential for an even higher casualty count.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the scale of potential loss of life. Both organizations called for increased resources and strengthened regional cooperation to enhance search-and-rescue capabilities and provide safe access to asylum processes.

“This tragedy highlights the desperate measures Rohingya refugees are willing to take to escape persecution and dire conditions,” said the statement. “More must be done to prevent such catastrophic loss of life.”

According to UN data, approximately 5,300 Rohingya refugees have attempted dangerous maritime journeys from Bangladesh and Myanmar this year alone. More than 600 people have been reported missing or dead during these crossings. The organizations attribute the increase in these perilous journeys to deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh’s refugee camps and the intensifying conflict in Myanmar following the military coup in 2021.

Malaysia remains a popular destination for Rohingya refugees seeking to escape persecution, largely due to its predominantly Muslim population and perceived cultural compatibility. The country currently hosts around 117,670 Rohingya refugees registered with the UNHCR, representing about 59% of Malaysia’s total refugee population.

Despite historically accepting Rohingya on humanitarian grounds, Malaysian authorities have increasingly attempted to limit new arrivals, fearing a mass influx. In January, Malaysian maritime officials turned away two boats carrying nearly 300 people believed to be Rohingya refugees.

The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, have faced decades of systematic persecution, including the denial of citizenship and basic rights. A brutal military crackdown in 2017 drove more than 730,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh, creating one of the world’s largest refugee populations.

Regional experts note that without comprehensive solutions addressing the root causes of displacement, desperate Rohingya will continue to risk their lives at sea in search of safety and opportunity.

“What we’re witnessing is a predictable consequence of the international community’s failure to resolve the Rohingya crisis,” said Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree, a human rights scholar at Thailand’s Mahidol University. “Until there’s a path to citizenship and safety in Myanmar, or better conditions in refugee camps, these dangerous journeys will continue.”