A devastating boat accident occurred near Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott, on Monday, resulting in 15 fatalities and over 150 missing persons, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The vessel, carrying 300 passengers, capsized while travelling from Gambia, leaving survivors stranded at sea for seven days.
The Mauritanian coast guard rescued 120 people, with 10 hospitalised, while efforts to locate the missing continue.
The incident highlights the dangers of the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, a notorious pathway for African migrants seeking to reach Spain.
Eyewitness Ibba Sarr, a fishmonger, reported seeing around 30 bodies washed ashore due to strong winds, warning that more lifeless bodies may be discovered in the coming days. The stricken boat was located 400 metres north of the market.
The tragedy comes as migration numbers surge, with over 19,700 migrants reaching the Canary Islands via the Atlantic route between January 1 and July 15, 2024 – a 160% increase from the same period last year.
Alarmingly, nearly 5,000 migrants have died at sea in the first five months of 2024 attempting to reach the Spanish archipelago, according to migration rights group Walking Borders.
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