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Nearly 600 people believed to be Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar have been rescued from boats drifting in Indonesian waters, the BBC reported.

At least two overcrowded boats - with many women and children on board - were towed by local fishermen to the shores of Aceh province on Sunday.

Myanmar - also known as Burma - refuses to recognise Rohingya as citizens.

Hundreds of thousands have fled persecution in recent years, often through Thailand but also by sea.

Indonesian authorities and aid agencies believe the rescued group had been at sea for about a week.

They may have been trying to reach Malaysia, said Steve Hamilton of the International Organisation for Migration.

He said on Sunday that four boats in total were thought to have come ashore.

"People thought they were in Malaysia, it [turned out] they were in Indonesia. They were left behind by the smugglers."

Aceh provincial rescue chief Budiawan told AFP news agency on Sunday: "We received a report from fishermen this morning that there were boat people stranded."

"We despatched teams there and evacuated 469 migrants who are Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladeshis. So far, all of them are safe."

North Aceh police chief Achmadi said at least 50 of the rescued people were taken to hospital.

"In general, they were suffering from starvation and many were very thin."