Calls grow for stricter boat safety measures after deadly capsizing in Arakan State

By Admin 16 Jun 2026

DMG Newsroom

16 June 2026, Rathedaung

A series of fatal boat accidents in Arakan State has prompted calls for the United League of Arakan (ULA) administration to enforce mandatory life jacket use and strengthen safety inspections for passenger vessels, civil society groups said on Tuesday.

The calls come after a passenger boat traveling from Kutaung Village in Rathedaung Township to Kyauktaw town capsized in Kin Creek near Ponnagyun on Monday.

The accident claimed 11 lives, including five women. Rescue teams said none of the victims were wearing life jackets.

"Standard-quality life jackets are critical survival tools that can keep a person afloat for 48 to 72 hours during a maritime emergency," said Ko Pyae Phyo Naing, chairman of the Ponnagyun Youths Association.

"The United League of Arakan and the Arakan Army (ULA/AA) should conduct strict inspections along water routes, similar to the enforcement of motorcycle helmet regulations on roads," he added.

Existing maritime regulations require commercial passenger vessels to carry sufficient life-saving equipment for all passengers.

Under current laws, vessel operators who fail to provide life-saving equipment or ensure passenger compliance can face the revocation of operating licenses and legal action.

As the Arakan Army exercises administrative control over most of Arakan State, civil society groups said the ULA administration should strengthen oversight of maritime safety, including vessel inspections and measures to prevent overloading.

"Passenger boats often carry excessive numbers of people and heavy cargo," said Kyauktaw resident Ko Zeyar Kyaw. "Boat owners should be held accountable for exceeding safe weight limits to help prevent similar accidents."

Concerns have also grown with the arrival of the monsoon season, which frequently brings strong winds and rough waters across the state.

On May 12, a boat carrying Muslim villagers returning from a football tournament in Minbya Township capsized in the Laymyo River, leaving nine people dead, including an eight-year-old child.

Residents said waterways remain the primary means of transportation for many communities across Arakan State, but weak enforcement of safety measures continues to contribute to fatal accidents each year.