Boat capsize death toll climbs to 13, with 34 Muslims still missing 

By Admin 09 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
9 August 2023, Sittwe
 
The bodies of 11 more Muslim victims of a boat capsize on Monday off the coast of Arakan State were recovered on Wednesday, bringing the total reported death toll to 13, with 34 people still missing. 
 
The boat — carrying 55 Muslims from Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships — capsized off the coast of Sittwe Township on Monday. Eight men were rescued and the bodies of two deceased Muslim women were recovered on Tuesday.
 
Eleven more bodies were found ashore near Barsar and Baydar villages on Wednesday, according to village administrators.
 
“We found the body of a dead woman this morning, and four more bodies have been found today,” Barsar village administrator U Soe Myint told DMG.
 
Three bodies were discovered near Baydar village, said Thaechaung village administrator U San Mya Kyaw.
 
“We found a dead woman yesterday, and two dead men this morning. We have reported to No. 1 Police Station. A charity came and took the bodies in their ambulance,” he said.
 
A total of 13 bodies had been recovered by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation.
 
Driven by poverty, unemployment and institutionalised discrimination, stateless Muslims risk prosecution under immigration charges to leave Arakan State to work in foreign countries, mostly Malaysia and Thailand.