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full screen The information about the shipwreck comes from the International Organization for Migration, which has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Archive image. Photo: Martial Trezzini/AP/TT
At least 25 people died when their boat was deliberately sunk by people smugglers off the Comoros, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
According to survivors of the sinking late Friday, the boat had about 30 people of various nationalities on board, including seven women and at least six young children, when it capsized between the Comorian island of Anjouan and the French territory of Mayotte, according to the IOM.
Fishermen rescued five survivors on Saturday morning.
The crossing between the two islands is a common migration route where thousands of people have lost their lives, according to the IOM.
Despite being France’s poorest department, Mayotte has French infrastructure and welfare, making it an attractive destination for poor Comorians.