About 200 people drowned in the Red Sea when a boat carrying migrants to Saudi Arabia sank off the Sudanese coast, Sudanese media say. Only three people had been rescued, according to the Sudanese Media Centre, a state-linked news agency.
A fire broke out on board the boat, which was trying to smuggle people to Saudi Arabia, the agency reported.
The boat had launched from Sudan's Red Sea State, carrying migrants from neighbouring countries, it said.
Most of those on board were from Chad, Nigeria, Somalia, and Eritrea, SMC reported, adding that efforts were continuing to find survivors.
Four Yemenis who allegedly owned the boat had been arrested in Port Sudan state, the report added.
Local authorities had foiled an attempt to smuggle 247 other people across the sea, it said.
The Red Sea is a well-known trafficking route to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, says the BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum.
Thousands of migrants cross the Red Sea every year, but the journey is a dangerous one, adds our correspondent.
Last month, 150 people drowned when a ship carrying some 850 migrants fleeing the conflict in Libya capsized off Tunisia.
From BBC News
GMT 16:51 2018 Thursday ,30 August
Lavrov tells West not to obstruct anti-terror operationsGMT 08:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Greenland, Faroe Islands tricky modelsGMT 08:44 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
World powers step up pressure on Syria, RussiaGMT 08:39 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Another Sisi rival at risk of exiting Egypt election raceGMT 08:30 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Myanmar blames Bangladesh for delayed Rohingya returnGMT 08:26 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
World powers meet to pressure Syria on chemical attacksGMT 08:20 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Turkey clashes with Kurdish militia as US sounds alarmGMT 09:06 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
US Democrats accept compromise to end government shutdownMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor