At least 50 people including children drowned off the Comoros archipelago on Tuesday, after a passenger boat sank.

Local officials say it appears the boat's engine failed, causing the vessel to hit rocks near the main island of Grande Comore.

Authorities have warned the death toll could go higher, as the boat was carrying more than 100 people. Authorities say at least 23 people survived. Search and rescue operations continued into late Tuesday.

Comoros is a group of three islands off the coast of Mozambique. The vessel was traveling between Grande Comore and the island of Anjouan when the accident happened.