At least one woman has tragically drowned, and 10 individuals have been successfully rescued following a distressing incident where a boat carrying approximately 90 undocumented migrants sank close to the border between Malaysia and Thailand, as confirmed by Malaysian authorities on Sunday.
The Kedah police chief, Adzli Abu Shah, informed the local media that a vessel transporting 90 individuals is suspected to have capsized three days ago, with two additional boats carrying a similar number of passengers also reported missing. Rescue operations are currently in progress to locate any additional survivors.
The Malaysian maritime authority has indicated that the tragic event took place in the vicinity of Tarutao Island, situated just north of the popular Malaysian resort island of Langkawi. Romli Mustafa, the Kedah state maritime director, stated that 11 individuals, including one deceased person, have been discovered so far, with the possibility of more victims being found at sea.
Malaysia, a relatively affluent country, is a destination for millions of migrants from economically disadvantaged regions of Asia, many of whom are working without proper documentation in sectors like construction and agriculture. However, these dangerous crossings, often facilitated by human trafficking syndicates, frequently result in perilous situations such as boat capsizing incidents.
In December 2021, Malaysia faced one of its worst months concerning migrant tragedies, with over 20 individuals losing their lives in multiple capsizing incidents off the Malaysian coast.