At least 20 Somali migrants, mostly young men, have died in the Mediterranean Sea, hoping to reach the Spanish island of Palma.
The migrants, who set off from Algeria, are reported to have died of hunger and thirst after the small boat they were travelling in capsized.
Reports also indicate that only two survivors, both under the age of 18, were rescued by a passing merchant ship after several days at sea without food or water.
Emergency services on the island of Palma confirmed that the two minors who were rescued are now receiving urgent medical care and psychological support.
Spanish authorities have launched an investigation to identify the dead and to learn more about the boat’s departure and the circumstances leading up to the disaster.
“This is another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers migrants face as they flee poverty, conflict, and climate instability,” said a spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Central Mediterranean route remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, with thousands of migrants dying each year, most of them from countries in the Horn of Africa.
