24 Die in the Indian Ocean after a boat capsizes

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – Twenty-four people died when two boats capsized off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, Somalia’s government said Sunday.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people had been rescued.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure survivors return home safely and receive the care they need,” he said.

Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark on dangerous journeys every year in search of better opportunities abroad.

A delegation led by Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors.

Fiqi also said on Sunday that the Somali ambassador to Morocco would review a separate report on Somali youth stranded on the Moroccan coast. It is unclear when the incident in Morocco took place, and Fiqi did not provide any details.

The UN migration agency has in the past expressed concern about rising cases of irregular migration from countries in the Horn of Africa as people flee conflict and drought.

In April, 38 migrants died and 22 others were rescued after a ship crashed off the coast of Djibouti on a popular route to Yemen. Most of the rescued were of Somali and Ethiopian nationality.