Off the coast of the Mitsamiouli region in the northern part of Grand Comore Island in the Comoros, 18 illegal migrants drowned on March 18. This was reported by Xinhua, citing the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Among the deceased were 15 citizens from Congo and three from Burundi.
According to the ministry's statement, a vessel carrying 48 illegal migrants was abandoned at sea by smugglers off the coast of the Comoros.
According to local media, the migrants were attempting to reach Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean.
