At least 24 people have been killed after two boats carrying mostly Somali nationals capsized off the coast of Madagascar, local authorities said.
A statement from Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said efforts were being made to “ensure the safe return of the survivors.” The two boats carried a total of 70 passengers.
The ships were discovered adrift off the northern coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean on Saturday. It is believed that their engines were defective.
A senior Somali government official told local media that survivors were rescued by fishermen.
Survivors say they were trying to reach the French island of Mayotte, a common but dangerous route for Somali migrants seeking asylum.
Unemployment and poverty in the Horn of Africa force many young people to take the dangerous route to reach Europe in the hope of a better life.
Madagascar authorities warned of “the serious risks associated with illegal migration,” suggesting the victims of the tragedy were migrants.
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