Friday May 30, 2025
Cédric Fettouche/Sea-Eye. A crew from the Alan Kurdi, a search and rescue vessel operated by the German NGO Sea-Eye, conducts a rescue of 82 people in the Mediterranean Sea on 6 April.
Mogadishu (HOL) — At least 20 Somali migrants, most of them young adults, have tragically died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward the Spanish island of Palma, local media and survivors confirmed on Wednesday.
The victims are believed to have succumbed to dehydration, exposure, and hunger after their small, overcrowded boat became stranded at sea.
The group had reportedly departed from North Africa earlier this week, aiming to reach European shores in search of safety and opportunity.
Only two survivors, both under the age of 18, were rescued by a passing merchant ship after spending several days adrift without food or water. Emergency services in Palma confirmed that the two minors are now receiving urgent medical care and psychological support.
Authorities in Spain have launched an investigation to identify the deceased and uncover more details about the boat’s departure and the conditions that led to the tragedy.
“This is yet another heart-wrenching 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 deadliest migration paths in the world. Every year, thousands of migrants—many from the Horn of Africa—risk their lives in search of a better future, facing harsh conditions and the threat of human trafficking.
