Dozens Feared Dead After Migrant Boat Sinks Off West Africa
At least 70 people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of West Africa, authorities in Gambia confirmed Friday. Another 30 passengers are feared dead, with the vessel believed to have departed from Gambia carrying mostly Gambian and Senegalese nationals.
The boat, carrying an estimated 150 passengers, saw only 16 survivors rescued. Mauritanian authorities recovered 70 bodies over Wednesday and Thursday, while witnesses suggest the death toll could exceed 100.
The incident occurred along the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, one of the world’s deadliest paths for migrants trying to reach Europe. Last year, more than 46,000 irregular migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, while over 10,000 lost their lives attempting the journey—a 58% increase compared to 2023, according to rights group Caminando Fronteras.
Gambia’s foreign affairs ministry urged citizens to avoid such dangerous journeys, highlighting the risks that continue to claim lives along the route.
