The waters off Southeast Asia have once again become the scene of tragedy, as a boat carrying Rohingya refugees from Myanmar capsized near the Thailand-Malaysia border, resulting in the confirmed deaths of at least 11 people and leaving dozens more missing. The incident, which unfolded around November 8, 2025, underscores the persistent dangers faced by the Rohingya as they flee persecution and hardship in their homeland and in refugee camps across the region.
According to Malaysia's maritime agency, the ill-fated journey began roughly two weeks prior, when about 300 people departed from Buthidaung in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state. As the group neared Malaysia, traffickers divided the passengers among three smaller boats, each carrying around 100 people, in an attempt to avoid detection by authorities. It was one of these vessels, believed to be carrying approximately 70 people, that capsized near the border, close to the resort island of Langkawi and Thailand’s Tarutao island, as reported by BBC and Reuters.
Rescue efforts commenced immediately, with the Malaysian Coast Guard recovering the body of a woman and rescuing ten migrants from the sea on Saturday, November 8. By the following day, six more bodies and three additional survivors were found, bringing the tally to seven dead and 13 rescued at that point, according to Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama. As of Monday, November 10, authorities confirmed the death toll had risen to 11, with Thai officials reporting that four of the bodies recovered included two children. The search for survivors has been expanded dramatically, now covering an area of 256 square nautical miles, and is expected to continue for at least seven days, as Malaysian maritime officials told Reuters.
Of the 13 people rescued, 11 are Rohingya and two are Bangladeshis, reflecting the mixed composition of those desperate enough to risk the perilous journey. The fate of the other two boats, one of which is believed to have been carrying as many as 230 passengers, remains unknown, leaving families and aid workers in agonizing suspense. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of further casualties or survivors drifting at sea, as some victims from the capsized boat were found having drifted toward the Malaysian coast.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority, have long been denied citizenship in Myanmar and subjected to severe discrimination and violence. Since a brutal military crackdown in 2017, over 1.3 million Rohingya have fled Myanmar, with most seeking refuge in the sprawling camps of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar. Yet, life in these camps is marked by overcrowding, poverty, and insecurity, prompting many to seek a better future elsewhere—even if it means putting their lives in the hands of human traffickers and embarking on treacherous sea voyages.
Malaysia, with its majority Muslim population, has emerged as a favored destination for Rohingya refugees. The country currently hosts more than 117,000 registered Rohingya, accounting for nearly 60% of its total refugee population, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Despite this, Malaysian authorities have sought to limit new arrivals, at times turning away boats or detaining undocumented migrants. In January 2025, for instance, two boats carrying nearly 300 Rohingya were denied entry, as reported by Los Angeles Times.
The risks of these maritime journeys are enormous. Boats are often small, overcrowded, and lacking in basic necessities such as fresh water or sanitation. Many migrants pay upwards of $3,000 for passage, only to find themselves at the mercy of the elements and unscrupulous traffickers. According to UNHCR data cited by Reuters, more than 5,100 Rohingya have attempted to flee Myanmar and Bangladesh by sea between January and early November 2025, with nearly 600 reported dead or missing. This latest disaster is a grim addition to that toll, recalling previous tragedies such as the December 2021 incident in which more than 20 people drowned off the Malaysian coast.
Cross-border syndicates have grown increasingly active in exploiting the desperation of migrants, orchestrating these dangerous journeys and profiting from the chaos. First Admiral Romli Mustafa of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency warned in a statement, “Cross-border syndicates are becoming increasingly active in exploiting migrants using perilous sea routes.” These syndicates often force passengers to change vessels mid-journey, further increasing the risks of capsizing and abandonment.
The ongoing civil war in Myanmar, which erupted after the 2021 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, has only deepened the Rohingya’s plight. The military’s campaign against ethnic minorities has driven thousands more to seek sanctuary abroad, while conditions in Bangladesh’s camps have deteriorated due to funding shortfalls and rising insecurity. As a result, the exodus continues, with Rohingya and other migrants regularly attempting dangerous crossings to reach Malaysia and Indonesia.
Regional cooperation has become critical in responding to these crises. At a press conference on Langkawi, Malaysia’s maritime agency director Romli Mustafa highlighted the close collaboration between Thai and Malaysian authorities, noting, "We have got very good ... relations with the Thai agency so we have got good communication and exchanges of information. It will be easier for us and our sea assets.” Both countries have deployed air and sea assets to aid in the search for survivors, with the operation expected to last at least a week.
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have called on regional governments to step up their efforts to prevent further tragedies. UNHCR spokesman Diogo Alcantara urged, “Regional governments must take action to prevent such tragedies,” emphasizing the need for coordinated search and rescue operations and more humane treatment of asylum seekers.
Despite international attention and outcry, the situation remains grim. The status of the missing boats and the fate of hundreds of people remain unknown. Survivors, meanwhile, face uncertain futures, with many likely to be detained or deported upon arrival in Malaysia or Thailand. For the families of those lost at sea, the wait for news is agonizing—and all too familiar.
This latest tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya and other stateless peoples in Southeast Asia. As long as persecution, poverty, and conflict persist in their homelands, desperate journeys like these—and the heartbreaking losses they bring—are likely to continue.
