Langkawi, El Sky News — A wooden boat carrying an estimated 300 migrants sank late Saturday near the Malaysia–Thailand maritime border, leaving hundreds missing and at least ten survivors rescued so far. Authorities from both countries have launched a large-scale search and rescue operation amid rough sea conditions.
According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the overcrowded vessel believed to have departed from southern Myanmar began taking on water after being struck by strong waves in waters between Langkawi Island and Satun, Thailand. Many of those onboard are believed to be Rohingya refugees attempting to reach Malaysia in search of safety and better living conditions.
“We received a distress report around 10 p.m. Our rescue teams found debris and managed to pull ten survivors from the water,” said Rear Admiral (Maritime) Datuk Abu Bakar Mohd Nor, MMEA’s Director of Operations, during a press conference in Langkawi on Sunday.
Malaysian authorities are working closely with the Royal Thai Navy to expand search efforts covering an area of 20 to 30 kilometers from the reported sinking site. Officials said strong winds and high waves have slowed rescue operations.
The rescued survivors, who have been taken to Langkawi’s Sultanah Maliha Hospital, were reported to be suffering from severe dehydration and minor injuries.
“According to the survivors, the boat was already overloaded when it left Myanmar. They had been at sea for more than a week with very limited food and water,” said one rescue official who requested anonymity.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia expressed deep concern over the tragedy and called for stronger regional cooperation to combat human trafficking and provide safe routes for asylum seekers.
“This incident underscores the ongoing suffering of the Rohingya people and the urgent need for a regional humanitarian response,” said UNHCR’s Malaysia representative, Indrika Ratwatte, in a statement from Kuala Lumpur. As of press time, the identities of the victims remain unknown, and the search operation continues. MMEA has deployed four patrol vessels, one helicopter, and additional support from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to assist in the mission
