Dozens of people are missing and one person has died after a boat carrying migrants sank near the border between Thailand and Malaysia. The vessel is believed to have capsized near the southern Thai island of Ko Tarutao on Thursday, according to the Malaysian Coast Guard. So far, ten individuals have been rescued, and the body of a woman was found floating in the water.
Maritime officials think the victims were part of a group of about 300 people traveling on a larger vessel before breaking into smaller boats as they neared Malaysia. Those rescued near the Malaysian resort of Langkawi include three Myanmar men, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man, as reported by Malaysia's state-run agency, Bernama. The body recovered was identified as that of a Rohingya woman.
As rescue efforts continue, it's clear that the human cost of fleeing violence and persecution remains vast. The Rohingya community, a primarily Muslim group fleeing Buddhist-majority Myanmar, has faced severe hardships in recent years, prompting increased numbers to embark on perilous journeys in search of safety, with many paying more than $3,000 for passage. Amidst continuing conflicts and dire conditions in refugee camps, these vulnerable individuals are often left with no choice but to risk their lives in these overcrowded vessels.
Maritime officials think the victims were part of a group of about 300 people traveling on a larger vessel before breaking into smaller boats as they neared Malaysia. Those rescued near the Malaysian resort of Langkawi include three Myanmar men, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man, as reported by Malaysia's state-run agency, Bernama. The body recovered was identified as that of a Rohingya woman.
As rescue efforts continue, it's clear that the human cost of fleeing violence and persecution remains vast. The Rohingya community, a primarily Muslim group fleeing Buddhist-majority Myanmar, has faced severe hardships in recent years, prompting increased numbers to embark on perilous journeys in search of safety, with many paying more than $3,000 for passage. Amidst continuing conflicts and dire conditions in refugee camps, these vulnerable individuals are often left with no choice but to risk their lives in these overcrowded vessels.
