The death toll from the shipwreck of a boat carrying migrants off the coast of Comoros has risen to at least 18, according to an update from the authorities published Thursday in an official statement.
According to this document, sent to APA, the General Directorate of Civil Security initially reported a “serious shipwreck” at sea, near the town of Mitsamiouli, involving a boat carrying migrants from the East African coast.
Alerted around 12:15 a.m. by the local civil protection unit, rescue services were quickly mobilized, with the deployment of two ambulances, an intervention team, and a resuscitation doctor.
The initial report indicated 12 deaths, 12 missing persons, and 30 survivors being treated at the Mitsamiouli hospital. The latest information suggests that the death toll has now risen to at least 18,
while search operations continue for any possible survivors.
The civil security outfit for the island expressed its “deep sorrow at this human tragedy,” reiterating the extreme dangers of irregular sea crossings, often undertaken in precarious conditions.
Authorities are calling for vigilance, collective responsibility, and strengthened preventative measures against these perilous crossings. An updated situation report is expected soon from the national police.
ARD/te/fss/as/APA