More than 500 people are feared dead following reports that two boats carrying members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority capsized in the Bay of Bengal, officials announced Thursday.
The boats, which departed from Myanmar’s western Rakhine state in late June, were carrying mostly Rohingya passengers, some of whom had traveled from refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh, according to a joint statement from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
One boat, with an estimated 250 people on board, lost contact shortly after its departure. A second vessel, reportedly carrying 280 individuals, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
"While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies stated.
Official comment from Myanmar's Ministry of Home Affairs and regional government spokespeople was not immediately available.
The Rohingya, who have fled Myanmar and crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh by the thousands in recent years, typically avoid sea journeys during the monsoon season due to dangerous conditions. Recent torrential rain and flooding across the region would have made such voyages especially perilous, the IOM and UNHCR noted.
Approximately 1.2 million stateless Rohingya remain in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, having escaped waves of violence from Myanmar's security forces. The military, responsible for killing thousands of Rohingya in 2017 during events the United States declared a genocide, continues to control their homeland.
Those Rohingya remaining in Myanmar face severe restrictions, with many confined to internment camps. Declining foreign aid from the U.S. and other nations has led to ration cuts in the Bangladeshi camps. Meanwhile, conflict between the ruling military and an ethnic armed organization in Rakhine has intensified, increasing the number of Rohingya attempting the perilous sea crossing to Malaysia on makeshift boats.
Thousands have died in these crossings, including women and children. Reports indicate that local maritime authorities have frequently failed to assist distressed Rohingya vessels at sea.
The IOM and UNHCR stated that these latest potential tragedies highlight the persistent lack of viable solutions for the Rohingya and urged international support for those in Bangladesh's camps.
"Stronger regional and international efforts are needed to prevent further loss of life along one of the world’s deadliest maritime routes, including through enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks,” the agencies urged.
In 2025, over 6,500 Rohingya fled their homes, with nearly 900 reported dead or missing, marking it as the deadliest year for those attempting to leave by boat. UNHCR reported this mortality rate as the highest of any major refugee and migrant sea route globally.