Indonesians rescue stranded Rohingya

Happy landing: Fishermen helping Rohingya onto the beach at Lancok village in North Aceh Regency. — AFP

Nearly 100 Rohingya asylum seekers stranded off the coast of Indonesia were pulled to shore by locals angered at the refusal of authorities to give them shelter over coronavirus fears.

Some 94 people from the persecuted Myanmar minority – including 30 children – were reportedly plucked from a rickety wooden boat by fishermen this week before being intercepted by maritime officials from Sumatra island who pulled them closer to shore.