Jerusalem Post/World NewsThe two vessels left Myanmar at the end of June, carrying passengers primarily from the Rohingya Muslim minority, in an effort to reach Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand.Follow us on GooglePeople gather around a boat carrying newly-arrived Rohingya refugees, after authorities prevented the refugees from disembarking and ordered them to remain on board the vessel.(photo credit: CEK MAD/AFP via Getty Images)ByREUTERSJULY 16, 2026 08:54Two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent days, UN agencies said on Thursday, as refugees from the war-torn country continue to make perilous maritime journeys in search of safety and better opportunities."According to preliminary information, the two vessels departed from Myanmar's Rakhine State in late June carrying mostly Rohingya passengers, reportedly including some who had traveled from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh," the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency said in a joint statement, saying more than 500 were feared dead."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."Members of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority for years have risked their lives on flimsy wooden vessels, driven by violence at home and desperate conditions in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, hoping to reach safety and opportunity in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand.With around 250 people onboard, the first boat lost contact shortly after departure, and a second vessel carrying around 280 people is believed to have sunk off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on July 8, the UN agencies said.Myanmar nationalists rally against the country's prosecution for genocide against the Rohingya minority at the International Court of Justice, in downtown Yangon on January 27, 2026. (credit: ANTHONY WALLACE AFP / VIA Getty Images)500 people feared dead after boats sink, many similar incidents this year"These journeys took place outside the regular sailing season, when maritime conditions are typically more hazardous," the statement said.The agencies said that nearly 300 people are reported to be missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.Follow us on Google