Death toll from Malaysia-Thailand migrant boat incident climbs to 20

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has risen to 20, while a total of 14 people have been rescued after a boat carrying undocumented migrants sank in waters near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border last week, authorities said on Tuesday.

The dead include seven men, nine women and four children, while the survivors are 12 men and two women, said Romli Mustafa, Malaysian maritime enforcement agency director for Kedah and Perlis states, in a statement.

Romli added that the search area is focused on the zone of ocean currents and weather projections that are known to have the potential to bring victims to land.

Malaysian authorities said on Sunday that around 300 undocumented migrants boarded a large vessel and departed from Myanmar, with the group being transferred into smaller boats as it reached Thai-Malaysian waters. One of these boats was reported to have capsized. ■