MORE than a dozen migrants died and at least 150 others are missing after their boat capsized off Mauritania on their way to Europe, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said today.

The IOM said that the tragedy triggered a frantic search and rescue operation.

There were reportedly 300 migrants on the boat that capsized on Monday near the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, and 120 have been rescued by the Mauritanian Coast Guard, the IOM said in a statement late on Wednesday.