At least 21 bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying about 70 undocumented migrants capsized near Tarutao Island, Thailand, four days ago. Malaysian and Thai authorities joined forces in search-and-rescue operations that have so far yielded 12 bodies in Malaysian waters and 9 in the waters around Tarutao, with no survivors reported in Thai waters.
Romli Mustafa, director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Kedah and Perlis, confirmed the latest findings: “We recovered five more bodies on Monday, following seven bodies found over the weekend. Our Thai counterparts have located a total of nine bodies. No survivors were found in Thai waters.”
Search teams, braving rough weather and challenging sea conditions, expect the seven-day mission to continue as they hunt for any remaining victims and clues to the capsizing’s causes. The tragedy highlights the perils faced by migrants navigating complex and crowded maritime routes in Southeast Asia.
Reference(s):
Death toll in Malaysia migrant shipwreck rises to at least 21
cgtn.com
