Dhaka, July 16 -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are deeply concerned by reports that two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent days.

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 travelled from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

One boat, believed to have been carrying around 250 people, lost contact shortly after departure.

A second boat, reportedly carrying some 280 people, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar's Ayeyarwady coast on 8 July.

While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be...