DJIBOUTI (Halbeeg News)-According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), At least five migrants have died, and more than 130 are missing after two boats capsized off the coast of Djibouti on Tuesday.
The boats sank off the coast of Godoria, a mangrove area in an area Northeast of Djibouti.
“After being alerted by local residents, a team of gendarmerie gathered this afternoon near the reported site of the disaster and discovered two survivors as well as the remains of three women and two men,” the statement read in part.
“The coastguard was also alerted and launched search and rescue operations. Those operations are still underway with two patrol boats.”
According to witnesses, the boats buckled under excessive load when faced with large waves.
The sinking of the boat comes amid an ongoing refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, where boats filled with refugees trying to reach mainland Europe after departure from points in North Africa.
Hundreds of migrants have lost their lives last year mainly Somalis, Ethiopians and Eritreans along Libyan coast while trying to cross over to Europe for better living standards.
On Monday, the Dutch government said it refused to accept a group of 47 refugees currently on a rescue ship that is being blocked from docking on Italian ports.
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