Four Pakistani nationals tragically lost their lives while trying to reach Spain illegally.The young men, hiding in the cargo hold of a ship, died due to suffocation in Mauritania. One of the victims, Abu Huraira from Jinnah Colony in Wazirabad, had left for Spain a month ago through an agent named Usman.
In another incident, a migrant boat capsized near Spain’s Canary Islands, resulting in at least nine deaths and 48 people missing. The National Maritime Rescue Service reported that out of the 84 onboard, 27 were rescued after a distress call near El Hierro.
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These incidents come after a similar tragedy in early September, where 39 migrants died off Senegal while trying to reach the Canary Islands. The dangerous Atlantic route, marked by strong currents and overcrowded boats, continues to claim lives of those seeking a better future in Europe.
Spain’s prime minister recently visited Mauritania and The Gambia to strengthen agreements against human smuggling and promote legal migration pathways. Despite these efforts, over 22,300 migrants reached the Canary Islands by mid-August, more than double the numbers from the previous year.