Overview
- Malaysian maritime officials report at least 21 bodies recovered—12 in Malaysia and nine in Thailand—with 13 survivors rescued as the search continues.
- Survivor accounts indicate about 70 people were on the capsized boat, part of a larger group of roughly 300 who left Buthidaung and were split into smaller boats near the border.
- Officials say the vessel likely went down near Thailand’s Tarutao Island before currents carried victims toward Langkawi, with the exact time and location still unconfirmed.
- Malaysia and Thailand have deployed vessels and aircraft, and the operation could run up to seven days across a search area of about 250 square nautical miles.
- Those rescued include Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals, who have been detained pending immigration investigations, as authorities cite human-smuggling networks and high-risk sea routes.