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Migrant boat capsizes near Thailand-Malaysia border, leaving dozens missing
A boat carrying migrants sank near the southern Thai island of Ko Tarutao on Thursday, leaving dozens missing and one confirmed dead, according to the Malaysian Coast Guard. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities search for survivors.
Rescue efforts and casualties
Ten people have been rescued so far, while the body of a Rohingya woman was recovered from the sea. The victims are believed to be part of a larger group of approximately 300 migrants who had been traveling on a bigger vessel before transferring to smaller boats as they neared Malaysia.
Survivors identified
Among those rescued near the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi were three men from Myanmar, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man, as reported by Malaysia's state-run news agency Bernama, citing a local police chief.
Background: Rohingya exodus
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar in large numbers in recent years to escape persecution. Many have also left overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, risking dangerous sea journeys in hopes of reaching Malaysia for a better life.
Human trafficking concerns
Officials say many migrants pay over $3,000 (£2,300) for passage on these perilous routes, often falling prey to human traffickers who exploit their vulnerability. The latest incident highlights the ongoing crisis of irregular migration in Southeast Asia.
Search operations continue
Maritime authorities from both Thailand and Malaysia are coordinating efforts to locate additional survivors, though rough sea conditions and the remote location pose significant challenges.
