The death toll from the sinking of a boat carrying Rohingya Muslim refugees rose to 27 on Tuesday, as Malaysian and Thai authorities widened their search for dozens still missing. One survivor, Iman Sharif, described a harrowing ordeal in which he drifted for days in the Andaman Sea before being rescued.
Iman said he spent eight days on a larger vessel before being moved with about 70 others to a smaller boat, which later capsized. “I saw one person die. They drowned,” he told reporters after being rescued and detained by Malaysian authorities.
The tragedy is the latest in a string of deadly journeys made by Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar and overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh. Thousands attempt to reach Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand each year on unsafe boats operated by smugglers.
Rescue Efforts
Malaysian maritime officials confirmed nine bodies were recovered on Tuesday, including one in Thailand. Thirteen survivors have been found since Saturday, and at least 12 bodies were recovered earlier, according to Malaysia’s maritime agency.
Authorities believe roughly 300 people had boarded a boat bound for Malaysia two weeks ago before being split onto two vessels. The smaller one sank, while the fate of around 230 passengers on the other remains unclear. Search operations are expected to continue until Saturday, with Thai teams expanding their coverage around Koh Tarutao, where most of the bodies were found.
Myanmar’s Denial and Ongoing Conflict
Myanmar’s ruling junta denies allegations of abuse against the Rohingya, claiming they are illegal immigrants from South Asia. The survivor said he was from Rakhine State, where fighting between ethnic armed groups and the military has intensified, pushing more civilians to flee.
The ongoing violence has driven a sharp increase in boat departures, with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reporting that more than 5,300 Rohingya have attempted sea crossings this year alone. Over 600 have been reported dead or missing.
Regional Response
In a joint statement on Tuesday, the UNHCR and IOM urged greater regional coordination to prevent further tragedies and address the root causes of Rohingya displacement. “Until the drivers of onward movement and the root causes of forced displacement in Myanmar are resolved, refugees will continue to undertake dangerous journeys in search of safety,” they said.
Amnesty International’s Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman called on Southeast Asian governments to prioritize humanitarian action over deterrence. “We would hope that these governments Malaysia, Thailand, others allow Rohingya to land and coordinate rescue operations,” he said. “Under no circumstances should they be pushed back to sea.”
With information from Reuters.
