Migrant boat capsizing off West Africa's coast claims at least 70 lives, according to Gambia's statement
In a heartbreaking incident, a boat carrying an estimated 150 passengers, mostly Gambian and Senegalese nationals, sank off the coast of Mauritania. According to Mauritanian authorities, 70 bodies were recovered on Wednesday and Thursday, while another 30 are feared dead. This tragic event comes amidst a rising toll of lives lost on the dangerous Atlantic migration route from the coast of West Africa to the Canary Islands.
Witness accounts suggest that over 100 people may have perished in this latest tragedy. The boat is believed to have departed from Gambia, a common starting point for many migrants embarking on this perilous journey.
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. In 2023, more than 10,000 people died attempting the journey, marking a 58 percent increase over the previous year. Last year, more than 46,000 irregular migrants reached the Canary Islands, a record.
The Atlantic migration route is one of the world's deadliest, with many boats capsizing or running into trouble due to rough seas and overcrowding. The human rights organization Caminando Fronteras has been involved in conducting assistance measures during the search for migrants who have died near the West African coast, particularly off the coasts of Gambia and Mauritania, in recent years.
Just a day before the Mauritania incident, at least 70 people were killed when a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Gambia. These tragedies underscore the urgent need for safer and more legal migration routes.
However, 16 passengers from the vessel that sank off the coast of Mauritania have been rescued, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the sorrow. The international community must do more to prevent such tragedies and ensure the safety and dignity of migrants.
