At least 25 people, including several children, have died after traffickers allegedly capsized a boat off the coast of the Comoros Islands, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday. The incident occurred late Friday night as the boat attempted the dangerous crossing from Anjouan to Mayotte.
“IOM Comoros is saddened to hear about the deaths of at least 25 people after their boat was deliberately capsized by traffickers off Comoros Islands, between Anjouan and Mayotte,” the UN body said in a statement. Five survivors, rescued by local fishermen on Saturday morning, reported that the boat carried around 30 passengers, including seven women and four children from various countries.
Repeated Tragedies on Dangerous Migration Route
This latest tragedy follows two similar incidents in recent months in the same area. In September, a boat carrying 12 people, including two children and a pregnant woman, disappeared en route to Mayotte. In August, eight people, among them a 12-year-old boy, lost their lives attempting the journey.
The migration route between the Comoros Islands and Mayotte—a French département since 2011—has seen thousands of deaths over the years, according to the IOM. The agency called for stronger measures to address the dangerous tactics used by traffickers and to protect vulnerable migrants on these perilous journeys.