Boat carrying migrants from Burma sinks off Bangladesh coast

Rohingya refugees, who survived after their overloaded boat heading to Malaysia sank, walk onto the beach following their rescue by Bangladeshi border guards in Teknaf, Nov. 7, 2012. / Getty

TEKNAF, Bangladesh Authorities said 23 people had been rescued after an overcrowded boat capsized off the Bangladesh coast Wednesday, but about 50 others were missing.

The boat was reportedly carrying about 70 illegal migrants, mostly Rohingya Muslim refugees from Burma, to Malaysia when it sank in the Bay of Bengal.

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Border commander Lt. Col. Zahid Hossain said no bodies had been recovered so far after Wednesday's sinking.

He quoted several survivors as saying they saw some bodies after the boat sank off Bangladesh's Teknaf coast, 200 miles south of the capital Dhaka.

Another coast guard official Lt. Badruddoza said survivors said they were traveling to look for jobs in Malaysia.

No other details were immediately available.