Over 500 Rohingya feared dead after boats capsize off Myanmar coast

Over 500 Rohingya feared dead after boats capsize off Myanmar coast
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More than 500 people, mostly Rohingya passengers, are feared dead after two boats reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar, according to preliminary information from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

The agencies said the vessels departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June. One boat, believed to have carried around 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure, while a second vessel carrying about 280 passengers reportedly sank near Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.

The incidents have not yet been officially confirmed, but UN agencies warned of a potentially devastating loss of life. They noted that more than 300 people had already been reported dead or missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year before the latest incidents.

The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim and largely stateless minority, continue to flee Myanmar and overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh due to ongoing insecurity and restrictions on their rights. Dangerous sea crossings toward Southeast Asia have increased despite monsoon conditions that make travel especially hazardous.

UNHCR and IOM called for stronger regional efforts, including improved search and rescue operations, access to protection for refugees, and action against smuggling networks, warning that the Rohingya remain among the most vulnerable groups facing deadly migration routes worldwide.