Rohingya Boat Tragedy Claims 27 Lives in Andaman Sea, Survivors Recount Ordeal
BANGKOK – At least 27 people have died after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Andaman Sea near the Thai-Malaysian maritime border, according to authorities from both countries. The tragedy has highlighted the ongoing peril faced by members of Myanmar’s persecuted Muslim minority who undertake dangerous sea journeys in search of safety.
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A survivor, Iman Sharif, described a harrowing sequence of events after being rescued by Malaysian authorities. He recounted being transferred from a larger vessel to a smaller boat carrying approximately 70 people, which subsequently sank. Sharif survived by clinging to wreckage for days before washing ashore on a Malaysian island, witnessing at least one person drown during the ordeal.
🇲🇾 NEW: Fortify Rights urges Malaysia to coordinate with Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian governments to urgently rescue Rohingya refugees missing at sea and ensure safe disembarkation for survivors.
21 bodies were recovered off Langkawi Island after a vessel… pic.twitter.com/a2nbIoZK4k
— Fortify Rights (@FortifyRights) November 11, 2025
Malaysian and Thai search teams have recovered bodies from the waters around Koh Tarutao, with the death toll expected to rise as operations continue. The incident is part of a broader crisis, with UN agencies reporting over 5,300 Rohingya have attempted the sea journey this year alone, resulting in more than 600 deaths or disappearances.
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The tragedy has renewed calls for regional cooperation. Amnesty International researcher Joe Freeman urged Southeast Asian governments to allow Rohingya boats to land and coordinate rescue operations, warning that without addressing the root causes of displacement in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, such dangerous journeys will continue. Malaysia, which does not recognize refugee status, has recently intensified measures against undocumented migrants, including turning away boats.
-Thailand News (TN)
