Langkawi: A tragic incident unfolded near the maritime border of Thailand and Malaysia, where a boat carrying Rohingya migrants sank, leaving at least eleven people dead and dozens more missing. Authorities believe around seventy people were on board the vessel when it capsized in the Andaman Sea late last week.

Thai and Malaysian rescue teams have recovered eleven bodies so far, including women and children. Thirteen survivors have been found and are now receiving medical care. Officials fear that many others remain missing, with the search operation still ongoing across a wide area of sea near Ko Tarutao island in Thailand and Langkawi in Malaysia.

Reports suggest that the boat was part of a larger group carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees who had set sail from Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Another vessel, which was traveling with about two hundred and thirty people, has not yet been located.

Authorities say the migrants were likely transferred from a larger ship into smaller boats to avoid detection by coastal patrols. Investigators believe the voyage was organized by human trafficking networks that routinely exploit desperate refugees hoping to reach Malaysia for a better life.

The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar, continue to flee worsening conditions in refugee camps and conflict zones. Many undertake dangerous sea journeys through the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, often on overcrowded and unsafe boats.

According to humanitarian agencies, more than five thousand Rohingya have attempted to travel by sea this year alone, with nearly six hundred reported dead or missing. Regional authorities say the search and rescue operations for the latest disaster could continue for several more days as they comb the waters by air and sea.

Human rights groups have urged governments in the region to strengthen protections for refugees and crack down on trafficking rings. They have also called for better regional cooperation to prevent such tragedies, which have become a recurring reminder of the desperation faced by thousands of displaced Rohingya seeking safety and dignity.