Approximately 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations announced Tuesday.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the vessel sank due to heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding. The boat was carrying men, women, and children at the time of the incident.
Rescue efforts underway
The Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) confirmed that one of its ships, traveling toward Indonesia, rescued nine people from the sea on April 9. Among the survivors was one woman, according to the AFP news agency.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan, a spokesperson for the BCG, said the crew spotted individuals floating in deep waters using drums and logs to stay afloat.
Police have detained six of the nine rescued individuals, who are alleged to be human traffickers, according to the Andalou news agency.
One survivor, Rafiqul Islam, said traffickers lured him onto the boat with promises of employment in Malaysia. He described a harrowing journey where many passengers died due to overcrowding and suffocation.
“We floated for nearly 36 hours before a ship rescued us from deep water,” Islam said. He added that oil spilled from the trawler during the ordeal, causing him burns.
The UNHCR stated the tragedy reflects the "dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya."
Thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar annually to escape civil war and state-sponsored repression. Many attempt the dangerous sea crossing to reach Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation with a large Rohingya diaspora.