At least eight bodies have been recovered from a boat carrying African migrants that washed ashore in Comoros, officials said on Thursday. The migrants were believed to be heading to Mayotte, a French territory between Mozambique and Madagascar.
The vessel was discovered late Wednesday after residents of Mitsamiouli heard cries for help and alerted police.
Comoros Interior Minister Mohamed Ahamada confirmed eight bodies had been recovered, but the hospital director said the toll could reach 17.
Survivors reported they were from the Democratic Republic of Congo, though police were still verifying nationalities.
Search and rescue operations continue, with the boat believed to have carried around 50 people.
This incident highlights the dangers of migrant routes, with thousands having died attempting to reach Mayotte in recent years.
In 2024, at least 25 people died near Mayotte after human traffickers capsized their boat, according to the U.N. migration agency IOM.
