At least 15 killed as Rohingya boat sinks

At least 10 children and five women were killed when a trawler carrying Rohingyas from Myanmar capsized in the Bay near Inani beach in Cox's Bazar yesterday, police said.

The death toll may rise further as more than 50 refugees remain missing.

The trawler overturned in the rough sea just yards from the shore after hitting some submerged object, survivors and witnesses said.

It was raining hard when the boat was trying to anchor in Patuartek area of Ukhia around 5:00pm amid strong wind and high tide. 

One survivor told The Daily Star that the boat was carrying about 90 people, many of them women and children. AFP news agency put the figure at about 120.

Coastguards said the craft was too small to carry that many people.

By the look of it, the boat could carry maximum 50 people, they added.   

Nineteen people were rescued while several others managed to swim ashore, said Stalin Barua, a sub-inspector stationed at the Inani police camp.

Eight of the victims were admitted to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex and six others to the Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Rescue efforts by police, coastguards and the local administration were still on at the time of filing this report around 10:00pm.

A Red Cross team was also there to provide medical support. 

Kashem, who lost three members of his family in the tragedy, said the trawler started for Bangladesh from Merulla Lake in Rakhine around 9:00pm on Wednesday.   

He said he was from Jahama village at Bhusidang in Rakhine State. He is being treated at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.

"The boat hit something underground as it came close to the beach. Then it overturned," said Abdus Salam, another survivor.

He said eight of his family members, including his mother and brother, were unaccounted for after the incident.