Palma, Spain – At least 20 Somali migrants have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea en route to Palma, a Spanish island, according to survivors.
Only two young people were rescued after the vessel, carrying over two dozen individuals, drifted at sea for several days before being discovered.
The victims, mainly youth from Somalia’s Puntland State, were fleeing widespread unemployment and lack of economic opportunities in their home region.
This tragedy highlights the growing trend of irregular migration from Somalia, driven by persistent economic hardship and a deep sense of hopelessness.
The incident comes just days after another migrant tragedy near Madagascar, where 24 Somali migrants drowned in the Indian Ocean.
Authorities and humanitarian groups have renewed calls for urgent action to address the root causes of migration and to strengthen search and rescue efforts along dangerous maritime routes.