Tragedy struck off Myanmar’s southern coast as an overloaded boat carrying around 30 passengers sank in the Andaman Sea, leaving 11 confirmed dead and 19 others still missing. Rescuers have recovered the bodies, with search efforts underway for the remaining passengers.
A local resident informed AFP on Monday that many of the passengers remain unaccounted for. “We found 10 bodies last night and one this morning,” said a monk from Kyauk Kar village, the boat’s departure point. The monk, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, added that most of the passengers were students returning to Myeik city after a two-week holiday break.
The boat left Kyauk Kar at 9 PM on Sunday evening (1430 GMT), a departure time the monk considered dangerously late. “It was already too late, and the boat was overloaded,” he explained. Shortly after departure, the vessel capsized.
Local villagers have since conducted cremation ceremonies for the recovered victims. According to the monk, none of the bodies recovered so far were of the students. Search and rescue teams continue to scour the waters for the remaining missing individuals.
Boat accidents in Myanmar are tragically common due to the country’s rudimentary transport system and poorly enforced safety regulations. Overloading of boats, particularly on coastal and river routes, is a frequent cause of fatal accidents. In many cases, retrieving all the bodies of those lost can take several days.
