At least one woman has died and 10 others have been rescued after a boat carrying around 90 undocumented migrants capsized near the Malaysia–Thailand border, Malaysian authorities said on Sunday.
According to Kedah State Police Chief Adzli Abu Shah, the vessel is believed to have sunk about three days ago.
“A boat carrying 90 people is believed to have capsized,” Adzli told local media, adding that two other boats, each carrying a similar number of passengers, have also been reported missing.
He said rescue operations are ongoing to locate additional survivors.
The incident reportedly occurred near Tarutao Island, located just north of Langkawi, a popular Malaysian resort island, according to the country’s Maritime Enforcement Agency.
“So far, 11 people, including one body, have been found,” said Romli Mustafa, the Kedah State Maritime Director. “There is a possibility that more victims will be discovered at sea.”
Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia’s more affluent nations, is home to millions of migrant workers—many of them undocumented—primarily from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal. They are often employed in low-paying sectors such as construction, agriculture, and domestic work.
However, their journeys are frequently perilous. Many rely on human trafficking networks to cross into Malaysia by sea, often in overcrowded and poorly maintained boats.
In one of the worst recent tragedies, more than 20 migrants drowned in December 2021 after several vessels capsized off the Malaysian coast.
