Lampedusa: At least 23 Somali nationals died after two irregular migrant boats capsized off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, with rescuers succeeding in saving the lives of 15 individuals, Somali Ambassador to Italy, Ibrahim Omar Shegow, said on Wednesday.

According to Qatar News Agency, Shegow affirmed that the two boats were heading to Italy when a technical malfunction caused them to capsize. He urged his fellow young people to never risk their lives but to invest in local job opportunities rather than illegal immigration.

Shegow called for the Italian security agencies to track down the trafficking cartels to protect the Somali young people.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that around 24,500 people have gone missing or drowned in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014 during their journey from Africa to Europe.