All recovered victims were taken to Teluk Ewa for documentation and investigation - November 11, 2025
Twelve others, including two children, were found dead in Malaysian waters, while nine bodies were recovered by Thai authorities in neighbouring waters
FOUR additional bodies have been recovered following a boat sinking believed to have been carrying undocumented migrants along the Malaysia–Thailand maritime border, bringing the confirmed death toll to 25.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Director for Kedah and Perlis Romli Mustafa said the authorities were alerted by members of the public after an adult male was found near Pulau Beras Basah.
“A MMEA asset was dispatched to the location, and the body was successfully brought to the jetty before being handed over to the police for further action,” he stated on Tuesday.
Shortly afterwards, a young boy was discovered floating near Tanjung Chincin, followed by another unidentified body in the same area.
All recovered victims were taken to Teluk Ewa for documentation and investigation. At 11.20 a.m., a Royal Malaysian Navy asset reported the discovery of another young boy’s body near Tanjung Belua, which was subsequently handed over to authorities.
“MMEA, together with all supporting agencies, remains committed to locating the missing victims. We will continue to expand the search area,” Romli added.
So far, 16 bodies have been recovered in Malaysian waters and nine in Thai waters. Thirteen survivors have been rescued, all within Malaysian territory.
The group of migrants reportedly departed from Buthidaung, Myanmar, nearly a month ago aboard a mother vessel carrying around 300 people. As they approached the Malaysia–Thailand border, the group split into three vessels: one main ship and two smaller boats.
One of the smaller boats, believed to have carried approximately 70 passengers, reportedly sank, leaving many still unaccounted for. The remaining estimated 230 people from the original journey are yet to be traced.
In a separate but related incident, a Rohingya woman believed to be in her 40s was rescued after being found clinging to two planks near Tanjung Belua on Saturday.
Local fisherman Muhd Azham Azmi, 34, who was fishing with two colleagues at around 6.50 p.m., initially thought the floating red object was debris.
“I saw a red object floating; when we got closer, it turned out to be a woman clinging to the planks. She did not shout, perhaps too weak to call for help. We lifted her onto the boat, gave her some water and cake, and wrapped her in a blanket to rest,” he said.
Although the woman tried to communicate, the rescuers could not understand her language. Muhd Azham then contacted the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and she was taken ashore by authorities around half an hour later.
He believes she was among the migrants whose boat sank while attempting to enter Malaysian waters.
Earlier reports indicated that 13 undocumented migrants had been rescued alive in Langkawi since Saturday.
Twelve others, including two children, were found dead in Malaysian waters, while nine bodies were recovered by Thai authorities in neighbouring waters. November 11, 2025
Langkawi, Boat Tragedy, Migrants, Rohingya, Maritime Rescue, Malaysia–Thailand Border, Maritime Enforcement
