A boat bound for Saudi Arabia sunk off the Sudanese coast on Tuesday killing 197, according to a pro-government Khartoum-based newspaper.
Only three people were rescued, the state-linked news agency Sudanese Media Center said, quoting officials in Port Sudan.
A fire broke out aboard the boat which was trying to smuggle people to Saudi Arabia, the agency said, adding that the dead were from Sudan's neighbouring countries. It did not say where the boat had started its journey.
Somali refugees, fleeing their war-torn country, often try going to Saudi Arabia via the sea with the help of smugglers. Many end up first in the kingdom's poor southern neighbour Yemen which is closer to Somalia.
Source: Reuters
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.