Hundreds Feared Missing After Rohingya Boat Sinks in Andaman Sea

Dhaka — About 250 people are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Tuesday, underscoring the persistent risks faced by those fleeing displacement in Myanmar.

The trawler, which departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh on April 4 and was bound for Malaysia, sank amid heavy winds, rough seas and overcrowding, the UN agency said in a statement. Preliminary information indicated that around 280 people were on board when the vessel went down.

The passengers were believed to include Rohingya refugees leaving overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million people displaced from Myanmar’s Rakhine State have been living in difficult conditions.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard said one of its vessels rescued nine survivors, including a woman, on April 9 after spotting individuals clinging to debris in waters near the Andaman Islands. Survivors were found floating on makeshift supports such as drums and logs after spending extended periods at sea.

One survivor, Rafiqul Islam, said traffickers had promised him employment in Malaysia before he boarded the vessel. He told AFP that passengers were confined in cramped conditions during the journey, with some dying before the boat capsized.

He said he endured burns from spilled oil and remained adrift for nearly 36 hours before being rescued.The incident highlights the ongoing movement of Rohingya refugees undertaking perilous sea journeys in search of safety and economic opportunity.

Malaysia remains a key destination for migrants from poorer parts of Asia, many of whom work in sectors such as construction and agriculture.The UNHCR said the tragedy reflects the broader consequences of prolonged displacement and limited pathways for safe return.

It called for renewed efforts to address the underlying causes of the Rohingya crisis and to create conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar.

The Andaman Sea, which borders Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, has seen repeated incidents involving migrant boats. Last year, the UNHCR reported that more than 400 Rohingya were feared dead in separate shipwrecks off Myanmar’s coast.