At least 15 Rohingya Muslims, including 10 children, who were fleeing from recent violence in Burma died today when their overcrowded boat capsized in rough weather, a survivor and police said.

Three boats carrying ethnic Rohingya fleeing violence in Burma have capsized in Bangladesh and 26 bodies of women and children have been recovered, officials said.

About 18,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled fresh violence in Burma and crossed into Bangladesh, with hundreds stranded in no man's land at the border, according to the International Organisation for Migration.