MOGADISHU/ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – A minimum of 22 Somali residents died when two migrant boats capsized off the coast of Madagascar over the weekend, Somalia’s Info Minister Daud Aweis stated.
Madagascar’s Port, Maritime, and River Authority (APMF) stated the boats had set sail from Somalia for the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Nov. 2, a journey of a number of hundred kilometres.
On Saturday, the port authority reported that native fishermen found the primary boat drifting on Friday close to Nosy Iranja. They rescued 25 individuals, together with 10 males and 15 girls, however seven occupants died, the authority stated.
A second boat carrying 38 individuals arrived at Madagascar’s Port du Cratère, in keeping with APMF. The maritime authority didn’t disclose a loss of life toll for the second boat however confirmed the rescue of 23 individuals.
Somali Info Minister Aweis, citing data from his counterparts in Madagascar, confirmed the entire loss of life toll at 22.
“They were about 70 Somalis, 22 of them died. One boat was carrying 38 people and the other boat was carrying 32 people,” Aweis stated on state-owned tv late on Sunday.
In current many years hundreds of individuals have tried to make the crossing to Mayotte, which has the next way of life and entry to the French welfare system.
Mayotte is formally a part of France, though Comoros claims it.
Aweis stated Somalia will examine the place the boats sailed from, terming those that organised the journey as criminals concerned in illicit immigration.
“This is also a message of warning to those who want to immigrate illegally before they go and die in such manner. It is unfortunate people still go despite danger,” he added.
In early November, not less than 25 individuals died off Comoros islands after traffickers capsized their boat.
