Malaysia Ends Nine-Day Search After Confirming Twenty-Nine Rohingya Deaths in Boat Tragedy

by Hafizur Rahman

November 19, 2025. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia has ended a nine day search and rescue operation after confirming that twenty nine Rohingya died when a migrant boat capsized near the Malaysia and Thailand maritime border. Authorities said the decision was made on Monday evening after rescue teams found no further signs of survivors.

The search began on nine November, three days after the boat overturned. Malaysian officials said teams covered more than one thousand seven hundred forty five square miles of sea during the operation. Zainudin Mohd Zuki, deputy operations director of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, said the mission officially ended at six thirty in the evening.

Survivors and Victims Identified

In total, forty three people were found. Fourteen survived, including twelve men and two women. The bodies of twenty nine people were recovered. The victims included fifteen men, nine women, two boys and three girls. More than three hundred personnel took part in the rescue effort, which involved air and sea units.

Zainudin said the operation could resume if new information emerges about those still missing.

Journey Began in Myanmar

Local sources said the tragic journey began in Myanmar, where the group of Rohingya left on a large boat carrying about three hundred people. The passengers were later transferred to three smaller boats. One of these boats capsized, causing the confirmed deaths. The fate of the remaining two boats remains unclear.

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar, continue to face systematic discrimination, violence and the denial of citizenship. These conditions have pushed many to take dangerous sea routes in search of safety.

Worsening Conditions Driving More Escapes

Since the 2017 military operations in Rakhine State, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh. More than one point three million now live in camps there, while others attempt perilous journeys to Malaysia and Indonesia. The civil war in Myanmar, which intensified after the 2021 military coup, has made life even more unsafe, leaving many families with few choices other than to flee.