More than 500 Rohingya are feared dead after two boats reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar in separate incidents since late June, according to the United Nations.
The report said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern over the suspected shipwrecks, which could become among the deadliest maritime tragedies involving Rohingya refugees in recent years.
The report said one vessel carrying about 250 people lost contact shortly after departing in late June, while another boat with around 280 passengers reportedly sank near Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
According to the report, the IOM and UNHCR have called for intensified search and rescue operations, stronger protection for asylum seekers, and greater action against trafficking and smuggling networks.
The report added that, if confirmed, the latest incidents would significantly increase the number of Rohingya reported dead or missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year.
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More than 500 people are feared dead after reports that two boats carrying members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority have capsized in the Bay of Bengal, officials say. https://t.co/I6S3S49Puy
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 16, 2026
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