Joint Search Intensifies After Rohingya Refugee Boat Sinks Near Malaysia-Thailand

Authorities in Malaysia and Thailand have initiated coordinated search and rescue (SAR) operations following the capsizing of a vessel carrying Rohingya refugees near their shared maritime boundary. The incident occurred on November 6, 2025, but was publicly reported three days later, on November 9, 2025. The tragedy unfolded close to Thailand’s Ko Tarutao Island, which is situated directly north of the Malaysian island of Langkawi. The confirmed death toll resulting from the sinking currently stands at a minimum of 21 individuals.

The passengers were part of a larger cohort of approximately 300 Rohingya who had departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State three days before the maritime disaster. Reports indicate that the group was transferred from a larger vessel onto three smaller boats to evade detection as they approached Malaysian waters; one of these smaller craft subsequently sank. The immediate governmental response involved a significant deployment of both air and sea assets, establishing a search zone covering an area estimated at 225 square nautical miles.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which functions as Malaysia's coast guard, is coordinating the extensive effort. The operation utilizes several surface assets, including the vessels KM SIANGIN, BENTENG 7, PETIR 81, and PERKASA 1226, alongside the Bombardier CL 415 aircraft. Officials have voiced serious apprehension regarding the fate of those still missing, citing the challenging sea conditions and the fact that the passengers were not equipped with life jackets. Initial data confirms that 13 survivors were rescued within Malaysian waters, and at least 12 bodies, including those of two children, were recovered in the same vicinity.

This maritime catastrophe underscores the persistent and perilous nature of the sea voyages undertaken by the Rohingya community. These journeys are driven by the need to escape persecution in Myanmar and the increasingly difficult living conditions within refugee camps in Bangladesh. The year 2025 has seen a marked increase in these high-risk crossings: prior to this sinking, over 5,100 Rohingya had attempted sea travel, with nearly 600 people already recorded as dead or missing. This trend reflects a deepening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by factors such as food shortages and reduced international aid within the overcrowded Cox’s Bazar camps.

Amnesty International issued a strong condemnation of the situation, emphasizing the critical need for regional governments to coordinate comprehensive search and rescue missions and ensure safe disembarkation for all refugees. Meanwhile, the ruling military junta in Myanmar continues to deny allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that the Rohingya are illegal immigrants. Human rights organizations argue that international humanitarian law mandates the rescue of individuals in distress at sea and prohibits forced returns, urging humanitarian action over containment strategies.

Historical context reveals a pattern of similar tragedies, notably the 2015 Andaman Sea crisis, during which approximately 8,000 Rohingya were left adrift after regional states refused them entry. The current incident, characterized by the transfer to smaller boats to circumvent border controls, highlights the extreme desperation fueling these routes, which are frequently managed by smuggling syndicates. As MMEA search operations persist, the primary objective remains locating the passengers from the two other vessels, whose status remains unknown, out of the original group of roughly 300 individuals.