Overloaded Boat Capsizes Off Myanmar Coast

An overloaded boat carrying approximately 70-75 passengers sank in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar's southern coast, leading to the recovery of eleven bodies, while more than 30 individuals remain missing. The boat, which departed from Kyauk Kar village late Sunday, was primarily transporting villagers fleeing from ongoing fighting in the region. Local reports indicate that the boat was significantly overcrowded, exceeding its normal capacity of 30-40 passengers, and faced strong currents at sea. Rescuers managed to retrieve ten bodies overnight and one this morning, but none of the recovered individuals were identified as students, as initially thought. The region has seen heightened violence since the military coup in February 2021, displacing thousands and prompting desperate attempts to escape conflict. Boat accidents are common in Myanmar due to inadequate safety regulations and frequent overloading.