Six undocumented migrants rescued after boat capsizes near Malaysia-Thailand border, with nearly 100 feared missing and search operations underway
LANGKAWI: A boat carrying nearly 100 undocumented migrants capsized near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border, with six survivors rescued in Langkawi waters.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah confirmed the six rescued individuals included three Myanmar men, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man.
The body of a Rohingya woman was also found drifting at sea in the same area.
Police received a public report at 9 am yesterday about three men drifting near Teluk Ewa, Langkawi.
Three more men and the woman’s body were discovered in the afternoon during subsequent searches.
“Preliminary investigations found that about a month ago, they boarded a large vessel carrying 300 people to enter Malaysia,” Adzli said.
As they neared the border, migrants were instructed to transfer onto three smaller boats to avoid detection by authorities.
Each smaller boat carried an estimated 100 people according to police investigations.
The capsizing occurred three days ago and is believed to have happened in Thai waters before victims drifted into Malaysian territory.
“The status of the other two boats is still unknown,” Adzli confirmed.
Authorities have requested the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Police to launch search and rescue operations.
The six rescued men are currently detained at Langkawi District Police Headquarters for further investigation.
The woman’s body has been sent to Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi for post-mortem examination. – Bernama
