The United Nations migration agency IOM reported on Monday that traffickers capsized their boat off the islands of Comoros on Friday night, killing at least 25 people. This is the third of such occurrence in three months.
“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 on Friday night,” IOM said in a statement.
According to IOM, which cited survivors, the boat was transporting about thirty individuals of various countries, including four children and seven women.
“Five survivors were rescued by fishermen on Saturday morning,” IOM said.
According to IOM, thousands of people have perished on this route since 2011 while trying to reach Mayotte, including in August when eight people perished in a similar incident and in September when a boat carrying 12 people from Anjouan failed to reach Mayotte.
Although it is claimed by Comoros, Mayotte is officially a part of France.
