A boat with about 100 refugees reportedly sank off the coast of Malaysia on Thursday, and at least 13 people are feared dead. 

Several survivors were rescued off Malaysia's western coast by local fishermen, Reuters reported. 

However, many people are still missing, and the death toll is likely to rise. 

"Local fishermen have rescued 13 people and have found 13 bodies," the local head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency told AFP.

The incident comes as yet another tragedy for refugees, as countries in South Asia and in Europe are facing one of the biggest migrant crises. 

On Wednesday, the lifeless body of a Syrian child washed ashore in Turkey, and the images sparked outrage at the state of refugees. 

The child was said to be trying to reach Greece with other Syrian refugees fleeing the violence in their country. 

South Asian nations such as Malaysia are among those seeing an influx of Rohingya refugees fleeing Thailand. 

Thousands of refugees have died this year attempting to reach other countries in overcrowded boats.