At least 22 Somali citizens died when two migrant boats capsized off the coast of Madagascar over the weekend.

Axar.az reports that, citing Reuters, it was stated by Somalia's Information Minister Daud Aweis.

Madagascar's Port, Maritime, and River Authority (APMF) said that the boats had set sail from Somalia on November 2, heading toward Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, a journey of several hundred kilometers.

On Saturday, the port authority reported that local fishermen discovered the first boat drifting on Friday near Nosy Iranja. They rescued 25 people, including 10 men and 15 women, but seven of the occupants died.

Somali Information Minister Aweis, citing information from his counterparts in Madagascar, confirmed the total death toll at 22.

"They were about 70 Somalis, 22 of them died. One boat was carrying 38 people and the other boat was carrying 32 people," Aweis said on state-owned television late on Sunday.