At least one person has died and dozens remain missing after a boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized off the coast of Malaysia, according to local authorities.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) reported that the vessel, believed to be carrying Indonesian migrants, sank in rough seas near the southern state of Johor early Wednesday morning.
Rescue teams have so far recovered one body and rescued several survivors, while search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.
Officials suspect that the boat was part of an illegal migration route often used by workers attempting to cross from Indonesia to Malaysia in search of better job opportunities.
The MMEA stated that bad weather and overloading may have contributed to the tragedy. Authorities are now working closely with Indonesian officials to identify the victims and prevent future incidents of unsafe migration across the region’s waters.