The United States on Thursday urged Southeast Asian nations to work together to save hundreds of migrants abandoned by people smugglers in rickety boats adrift in the Andaman Sea.

"We are concerned about the situation and we urge countries of the region to work together to save lives at sea," a State Department spokesman, Jeff Rathke, said, adding US ambassadors in region were coordinating with the United Nations and with the Asian governments who have refused entry to the desperate migrants, insisting "the priority is to save lives."