Six Dead As Hundreds Flee Malaysian Camp Riot

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar fled a detention centre in northern Malaysia where a riot broke out early on Wednesday.

The Daily Sabah reports on Wednesday, saying six were killed, including two children, after being hit by vehicles on a highway as they escaped.

The immigration department said in a statement that a total of 582 Rohingya escaped the Sungai Bakap temporary immigration detention camp in northern Penang state by breaking down doors and barrier grills, though 362 have since been re-arrested.

Malaysia has long been a favoured destination for ethnic Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar or refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Since 2020, thousands have been housed in crowded detention centres as part of what Malaysian authorities say are efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The Police also said they were still investigating the cause of the riot, while authorities searched for the remaining detainees who had fled.