In two separate incidents, Rohingya refugees and a group of fishermen faced fatal outcomes due to boat capsizings in Indonesia and Australia, respectively, highlighting the perilous nature of sea voyages and the humanitarian crisis.
Three Rohingya refugees were found dead in the sea near Indonesia’s Aceh province, concluding a search for survivors after a boat capsized. Indonesian fishermen and rescue teams rescued 75 people, with the victims – two adult women and one boy – identified amongst the deceased. This incident is part of a larger tragedy where a boat carrying over 150 Rohingya refugees capsized, with six more bodies found later, totaling nine fatalities. These refugees, fleeing persecution in Myanmar, embarked on their perilous journey from a camp in Bangladesh. Despite not being signatories to the UN Refugee Convention, Indonesia provided temporary refuge. Concerns remain for about 70 individuals feared missing or deceased.
In a separate incident in South Australia, three people died, and two were hospitalized after their fishing boat capsized near Spilsby Island in Spencer Gulf. The recovered boat, part of a fishing outing involving family and friends, met with tragedy when it overturned due to a wave. A police helicopter rescued a man and a boy, while the search ended with the discovery of three deceased individuals. The survivors were treated for hypothermia, and the incident is under investigation for a subsequent coroner’s report.
