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Migrant boat sinks near Malaysia's Langkawi, leaving 21 dead
At least 21 people have died after a boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized near Malaysia's resort island of Langkawi, close to the Thai border, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. Search and rescue efforts have entered their third day, with 13 survivors pulled from the water-but dozens still unaccounted for.
Overcrowded vessel carried Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants
The Malaysian Coast Guard estimates roughly 70 people were aboard the ill-fated boat, which is believed to have departed two weeks ago from Myanmar's impoverished Rakhine state. Among the 13 rescued, 11 are Rohingya Muslims and two are Bangladeshi nationals. One of the recovered bodies was that of a child, officials said.
This group is part of a larger exodus: another vessel carrying 230 passengers remains missing, according to Malaysian maritime authorities. The search operation, involving aerial and surface patrols, is expected to continue for at least seven days.
Desperate journeys from Myanmar and Bangladesh
The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar, have faced systematic denial of citizenship and violent crackdowns. Since August 2017, over 700,000 fled to Bangladesh after a military offensive in Rakhine state. Now, worsening conditions in refugee camps-compounded by conflict and scarcity-are driving some to risk deadly sea crossings to Malaysia, viewed by many as a safer haven.
"People are dying in the fighting, dying from hunger. So some think it's better to die at sea than to die slowly here," a Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar told Reuters.
Exploitative smuggling networks and perilous conditions
Migrants often pay over $3,000 (£2,300) per person for passage on cramped, unseaworthy boats lacking fresh water, food, or sanitation. Many vessels never reach their destination-some sink, while others are turned away. In January, Malaysia intercepted and repelled two boats carrying around 300 refugees after providing minimal supplies.
Amnesty International condemned the latest tragedy as evidence of the "deadly risks" Rohingya face, citing ongoing persecution in Myanmar and deteriorating camp conditions in Bangladesh. The rights group estimates over 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since late 2023, with hundreds of thousands displaced globally.
Regional response and accountability gaps
Malaysia and neighboring countries have faced criticism for inconsistent policies toward migrant boats. While some vessels are allowed to dock, others are pushed back to sea, leaving passengers stranded. Advocates argue the lack of coordinated rescue efforts and safe migration routes exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has not yet commented on whether survivors will be granted temporary refuge or face detention.
