More than 500 people are feared to have died after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees reportedly capsized off the coast of Myanmar, according to the United Nations, raising fears of one of the deadliest maritime disasters involving the persecuted minority in recent years.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said they were deeply concerned by reports that two overcrowded vessels carrying more than 500 people disappeared during separate sea journeys after departing Myanmar’s western Rakhine State in late June.
Some of those on board had reportedly travelled from the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, before attempting the dangerous crossing in search of safety and better opportunities.
According to preliminary information, the first boat, carrying around 250 passengers, lost contact shortly after leaving Myanmar. A second vessel, believed to have been carrying about 280 people, reportedly sank off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
While the incidents and casualty figures have not yet been officially confirmed, the UN agencies warned that more than 500 people are feared dead as search efforts and investigations continue.
For years, Rohingya refugees have undertaken perilous sea journeys to countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, fleeing persecution, conflict and worsening humanitarian conditions in Myanmar and overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh.
The UN said the latest voyages took place outside the normal sailing season, when rough seas, heavy rainfall and flooding make maritime travel even more dangerous.
According to UNHCR and IOM, nearly 300 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals had already been reported dead or missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year before the latest incident.
If confirmed, the latest tragedy would become one of the deadliest involving Rohingya refugees in recent years. The UN also noted that nearly 900 Rohingya were reported dead or missing in the northern Indian Ocean during 2025 after attempting similar crossings.
The agencies said escalating conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, shrinking humanitarian assistance and deteriorating living conditions in refugee camps continue to push desperate families toward dangerous sea routes operated by smuggling and human trafficking networks.
Around 1.2 million stateless Rohingya remain in refugee camps across Bangladesh after fleeing Myanmar’s military crackdown in 2017. Many who remain inside Myanmar continue to face severe restrictions, while ongoing conflict has further deepened the humanitarian crisis.
In response to the latest reports, UNHCR and IOM called for stronger international search-and-rescue efforts, greater protection for refugees seeking asylum and increased action against human trafficking networks. They also urged the international community to provide sustained humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees and host countries while addressing the root causes of the displacement crisis.
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