Rohingya boat sinks off Malaysia, hundreds feared missing

A boat carrying Rohingya migrants from Myanmar has capsized near the Malaysia–Thailand border, leaving hundreds missing, Malaysian authorities have said. Seven people have been confirmed dead, and 13 rescued so far.

According to Malaysian maritime officials, the vessel, carrying around 300 passengers, departed Myanmar's Rakhine state three days ago, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Rescue teams are searching an area of approximately 170 square nautical miles near Langkawi Island.

Romli Mustafa, head of the maritime agency in the region, said images from the scene showed survivors being attended to by rescuers. The exact whereabouts of two other smaller boats, reportedly carrying the remaining passengers, are still unknown.

State media Bernama reported that passengers had initially boarded a large vessel from Myanmar but were transferred to three smaller boats near Malaysian waters to avoid detection.

Rakhine state has long been a flashpoint of conflict and persecution targeting the Rohingya Muslim minority. Following a brutal military crackdown in 2017, around 1.3 million Rohingya fled to refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Faced with worsening conditions in both Myanmar and overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, many Rohingya undertake dangerous sea journeys in search of safety.

According to UN Refugee Agency data, more than 5,100 Rohingya attempted to leave Myanmar and Bangladesh by boat between January and early November 2025, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing.

By Aghakazim Guliyev