Death toll rises to 7 after migrant boat sinks near Malaysia-Thailand maritime border

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has risen to 7 while a total of 13 have been rescued after a boat carrying nearly 100 undocumented migrants sank in waters near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border, authorities said on Monday.

The search and rescue operation has been expanded to cover 255.66 square nautical miles, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement.

The agency, which is the country's coastguard, said it is cooperating with the Marine Police, Royal Malaysian Navy, Fire and Rescue Department, Fisheries Department and Civil Defense Force, with several ships and aircraft being committed to the effort.

Malaysian authorities said on Sunday that around 300 undocumented migrants boarded a large vessel and departed from Myanmar. As the large vessel approached the Malaysian maritime border, the migrants were divided into three smaller boats to avoid detection by the authorities.

One of these boats carrying up to 100 people capsized three days ago, and the status of the other two boats is still unknown, said the authorities.

Meanwhile, Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah told a press briefing that patrols have been stepped up around Teluk Ewa in Kedah state and nearby coastal areas, urging residents to alert authorities if they come across any survivors hiding or stranded in the area.

He said police are also working with the MMEA to determine the location where the vessel sank and are working to identify those responsible for smuggling the migrants into Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Thai media reported on Monday that four bodies have been recovered after a boat capsized near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border.

According to Thai authorities, the victims were found floating in the sea on Sunday near Tarutao Island in southern Thailand's Satun province and were transported to a local hospital for autopsy.

Satun Governor Sakra Kapilakarn has ordered an urgent, large-scale search and rescue operation by sea and land, focusing on the southern coast of the island for any survivors who may have washed ashore. Enditem