Rohingya migrant boat disaster: 17 dead, over 100 still missing near Thai–Malaysian border

Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) confirmed on 10 November 2025 that the death toll has risen to 17, with six more bodies found on Sunday and three additional survivors rescued.

The update followed two days of intensive search operations after a vessel carrying Rohingya migrants sank near the Thai–Malaysian maritime border, close to Pulau Tarutao and Langkawi Island.

According to First Admiral Romli Mustafa, MMEA Director for Kedah and Perlis, the search and rescue mission—Op CARILAMAT—remains ongoing, covering approximately 170 square nautical miles.

The agency has established a forward operations base (PHC) at its Kedah–Perlis office to coordinate rescue activities involving the Department of Fisheries, local fishermen, and naval assets.

New victims and survivors recovered

Romli said that as of 7.00 p.m. on 9 November, nine people were located—three alive and six deceased—in waters off Langkawi.

At 3.11 p.m., two men were spotted floating near Kuala Muda Teriang by local fishermen and rescued before being transferred to Langkawi Maritime Jetty for medical attention and police processing.

Later in the afternoon, rescue vessels recovered the body of a young girl, followed by a man and a woman in separate operations.

Meanwhile, at a different search sector, KM Siangin reported finding the bodies of four women, which were later transported to the Teluk Ewa cement jetty for police handling.

Romli confirmed that Op CARILAMAT was suspended at 7.00 p.m. due to nightfall and would resume on Monday morning.

Hundreds still unaccounted for

The sunken vessel was reportedly one of three smaller boats that had split from a larger vessel carrying approximately 300 migrants.

According to Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah, the division occurred to evade detection by maritime authorities as the boats approached Malaysian waters.

The fates of the other two boats remain unknown, with Malaysian and Thai authorities maintaining joint maritime surveillance.

The MMEA urged coastal communities, particularly fishermen and tour operators, to report any debris or sightings through the Maritime Malaysia emergency hotline (999) or the Langkawi operations centre (04-966 2750).

Regional and humanitarian implications

Since Myanmar’s 2017 military crackdown, thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled by sea to escape persecution or deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camps, which now shelter over 1.3 million displaced people.

Data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) shows that from January to early November 2025, more than 5,100 Rohingya attempted to leave by sea, with nearly 600 recorded as dead or missing before this latest incident.

The MMEA stated that the current operation underscores “the urgent need for vigilance and public cooperation” in saving lives.

Humanitarian groups have urged Southeast Asian nations to coordinate regional search-and-rescue frameworks and strengthen anti-smuggling enforcement to prevent further loss of life.

Continuing operations

As of Monday evening, rescue personnel continue to scour the waters around Langkawi and the maritime boundary near Thailand.

The MMEA said it will persist with aerial and sea patrols “until all possible leads are exhausted.”

Authorities have not released the identities of the deceased but confirmed that most victims were Rohingya women and children.

Survivors are being questioned by police and immigration officers while receiving medical care.