At least 25 people, including women and children, died when their boat was deliberately capsized by traffickers off the Comoros Islands, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday.

According to survivors of the sinking late Friday, the boat carried around 30 people of different nationalities, including seven women and six children, it said in a statement.

"IOM Comoros is saddened to hear about the deaths of at least 25 people after their boat was deliberately capsized by traffickers off Comoros Islands, between Anjouan and Mayotte on Friday night," the statement said.