North Sentinel Island: The world’s most dangerous island to avoid
Tourists banned from North Sentinel Island due to hostile tribe
A tropical escape on a secluded island is a dream for many, but North Sentinel Island should be avoided. White sand beaches and crystal-clear waters are the epitome of relaxation. The Maldives, the Seychelles, and Mauritius are popular destinations that come to mind.
However, tourists are banned from one Indian Ocean island. Though its nature remains untouched, North Sentinel Island is not worth the risk. Part of the Andaman archipelago, North Sentinel Island is home to up to 500 natives. Located in the Bay of Bengal, the closest mainland countries are Myanmar and Thailand.
The island is inhabited by a voluntarily isolated tribe known for violently defending their territory. Consequently, a five-nautical-mile (9.3 km) exclusion zone surrounds it. Known as the Sentinelese, this tribe is considered the world’s most dangerous and has lived there for approximately 60,000 years.
North sentinel island is the last untouched island to exist in this planet, John was on a mission to spread Christianity with little knowledge of the natives there. pic.twitter.com/hlv9SSIHAh
— MissFacto (@missfacto) April 15, 2024
Some adventurers, driven by curiosity, have crossed the exclusion zone with fatal outcomes. The latest was US evangelist John Allen Chau in 2018. Sent by a Missouri-based missionary, he aimed to live among and preach Christianity to the Sentinelese. Their language is unrecognised outside the tribe, making communication in English nearly impossible.
Despite this, John visited the island multiple times. He had initially travelled to Port Blair, the Andaman’s capital, on a tourist visa and paid fishermen about $400 (£301) to be ferried illegally to North Sentinel. On November 15, a boat dropped him 700 metres from the island’s shore. John then canoed towards the coast with a waterproof Bible, ignoring the fishermen’s warnings.
En medio del océano Índico se encuentra la que se conoce como la isla más hostil del mundo.
En este lugar, habitado desde al menos hace 60 mil años, se vive aislado del mundo exterior y es altamente peligroso acercarse a sus costas.
Esta es la historia de Sentinel del Norte👇 pic.twitter.com/EDEeimbdfn
— Mar Gómez (@MarGomezH) February 27, 2024
He offered the tribe gifts and tried to communicate but faced hostility. During one visit, a boy shot an arrow that pierced the Bible he was holding, as noted in his diary. John’s final visit was on November 17, from which he never returned. Fishermen reported seeing the tribe drag and bury his body on the shore.
Indian authorities were unable to recover John’s body. Seven people, including the fishermen who ferried him, were arrested. In his diary, John had written: “I think it’s worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people. Please do not be angry at them or God if I get killed… Don’t retrieve my body.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- Sentinelese is the most isolated tribe in the world, resisting all contact and living on North Sentinel Island, emphasizing their right to self-determination and isolation.(read more)
- The Mirror highlights the chilling reason behind the Sentinelese tribe’s hostility, rooted in British colonial history of disease, sexual abuse, and intergenerational trauma.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why are tourists banned from North Sentinel Island?
The island’s isolated tribe is known to kill anyone who enters their territory.
Where is North Sentinel Island located?
It’s in the Bay of Bengal, near Myanmar and Thailand.
Who was the most recent person to visit North Sentinel Island illegally?
US evangelist John Allen Chau in 2018.
What happened to John Allen Chau on North Sentinel Island?
He was killed by the tribe after attempting to communicate and preach Christianity.
How did John Allen Chau reach North Sentinel Island?
He paid fishermen around $400 to illegally ferry him near the island.
