Boat capsized off the coast of Indonesia, fear of death of 50 Rohingya
Last Updated on March 21, 2024 12:43 pm
A wooden boat carrying Rohingya has sunk off Indonesia’s northern Aceh province. About 50 Rohingya refugees are expected to die. There were about 150 passengers on the boat.
The accident happened about 25 kilometers (16 miles) off the coast of Kuala Bubon Beach in the province on Wednesday. The boat was carrying dozens of Rohingya Muslim refugees. The US news agency AP reported this news.
Fishermen rescued six people, including four women and two men, from the boat and took them to a shelter. They went there and spoke with Faisal Rahman, the representative of the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.
Rahman said that the rescued survivors told him that many had drowned.
He told the media that we cannot confirm the exact number of casualties. However, the six people who were rescued said that many died. They estimate that around 50 people died when the boat sank.
Most of those who are expected to die are women and children who are unable to swim. They are swept into the sea by the current.