Malaysia-Thailand joint rescue expands search to 272.78 nautical miles as 21 bodies recovered, dozens missing
PETALING JAYA: Rescue operations have been expanded to cover 272.78 square nautical miles as Malaysian and Thai authorities continue their third day of searching for undocumented migrants still missing following a boat capsizing near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime boundary.
The collaborative mission has recovered 21 bodies to date—12 from Malaysian waters and nine from Thailand—while all 13 survivors were located on the Malaysian side of the border.
A spokesperson from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) told New Straits Times that operations recommenced at 7.30am today with five MMEA vessels and one aircraft deployed to the area.
The search effort includes personnel and assets from multiple agencies: the marine police, Royal Malaysian Navy, Fisheries Department, Fire and Rescue Department, and Civil Defence Force.
Authorities have determined that the migrants began their journey from Buthidaung, Myanmar, approximately one month ago aboard a “mother vessel” carrying an estimated 300 people.
Upon approaching the Thailand-Malaysia maritime boundary, the passengers were transferred into three separate boats—the main vessel and two smaller craft.
One of the smaller boats, which was carrying approximately 70 individuals, is believed to have capsized during the transfer or shortly thereafter, leaving numerous people unaccounted for.
The fate of the remaining approximately 230 migrants from the original voyage remains unknown, as they have not yet been located by rescue teams.
The tragedy unfolds against the backdrop of Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, which continues to drive Rohingya families to risk their lives on overcrowded and often unseaworthy vessels in desperate searches for safety.
The Rohingya have been designated by the United Nations as among the “most persecuted people in the world,” facing systematic discrimination and violence in Myanmar that has forced hundreds of thousands to flee by land and sea.
The perilous sea routes through the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca have claimed countless lives over the years, as refugees attempt to reach Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and other potential destinations.
