Malaysia rescues 23 migrants after boat capsizes, 14 still missing
Key takeaways
- Authorities deploy boats, helicopter and surveillance aircraft to search for missing migrants off Pangkor Island.
- In a statement on Tuesday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in the state of Perak said local fishermen have rescued 23 people so far, while 14 others are believed to be missing.
- Two MMEA vessels, assisted by the marine police, the navy and members of the local fishing community, are involved in the search operation, according to the Bernama news agency.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Authorities deploy boats, helicopter and surveillance aircraft to search for missing migrants off Pangkor Island.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo MMEA officers lower the Malaysian flag as they prepare to depart for a search and rescue operation after a boat carrying members of the Rohingya community sank in waters near the Thailand-Malaysia border, at Langkawi, Malaysia, November 12, 2025 [Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters Published On 12 May 202612 May 2026Authorities in Malaysia have launched a search and rescue mission for missing people after a boat carrying 37 undocumented migrants sank off its western coast.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in the state of Perak said local fishermen have rescued 23 people so far, while 14 others are believed to be missing.