At least 22 Somali nationals have been confirmed dead after two boats capsized off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, authorities said on Saturday. The boats were carrying 70 passengers, all of whom were Somalis, according to Abdullahi Warfa, Somalia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union.
While the exact date of the tragedy has not been disclosed, Warfa confirmed that the bodies of the victims were recovered on Saturday. A total of 48 survivors were rescued by local fishermen and have since received medical treatment.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities noting that the names of the victims will be shared through Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The cause of the accident remains unclear, though it is part of a troubling trend of migrant fatalities in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this month, at least 24 people died when a boat sank off the coast of the Comoros Islands, with traffickers believed to have intentionally capsized the vessel. Additionally, in September, a boat carrying 12 people, including two children and a pregnant woman, disappeared after leaving the Comoros and attempting to reach Mayotte.
The tragic event is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach the French overseas territory of Mayotte, a popular but perilous destination in the Indian Ocean. The migration route has seen thousands of lives lost in recent years.
