The U.N. migration agency says more than 60 people are either confirmed dead or missing and presumed dead following the shipwreck of a boat carrying Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar.

Spokesman Joel Millman of the International Organization for Migration told reporters in Geneva on Friday that 23 deaths have been confirmed, after eight bodies were found overnight following an initial count of 15.

"Twenty-three people have been confirmed dead ... 40 are missing and presumed drowned," Millman told reporters in Geneva, referring to the Thursday accident. "The total fatality toll be in the range of 60," he added.