Around 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, are feared missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea while attempting to reach Malaysia, according to the United Nations refugee and migration agencies.
The vessel, reportedly carrying more than 250 passengers, had departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh earlier this month and was heading toward Malaysia when it sank under harsh conditions, reports said.
Preliminary information indicates that overcrowding, strong winds, and rough seas contributed to the disaster, causing the boat to lose control before capsizing.
Only a small number of survivors have been rescued so far. According to reports, a Bangladeshi vessel spotted people floating at sea and rescued nine individuals, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
Survivor accounts cited in reports describe severe conditions onboard, with passengers crammed into confined spaces for several days as the vessel struggled through difficult weather.
Read: Varanasi Court Denies Bail to 14 Men Booked Over Iftar on Ganga Boat
The exact timing of the sinking remains unclear, and there is no confirmed large-scale rescue operation underway, particularly as the incident occurred outside Bangladesh’s immediate territorial waters.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration said the tragedy underscores the ongoing risks faced by Rohingya refugees, many of whom undertake dangerous sea journeys due to limited opportunities and deteriorating conditions in camps in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh currently hosts over a million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar, and many continue to rely on irregular migration routes in search of safety and livelihood opportunities.
The incident is among the latest in a series of maritime tragedies in the region, where overcrowded and unsafe vessels frequently carry vulnerable migrants across perilous waters.
Further details are awaited as authorities and international agencies continue to assess the scale of the disaster.
