A tragic incident has left at least 69 people dead after a boat capsised off the coast of Mauritania, officials confirmed. Many others remain missing as rescue operations continue.
According to the Mauritanian coastguard, 17 survivors were pulled from the water. The wooden canoe was carrying about 160 passengers and was headed for Spain’s Canary Islands before the accident occurred on Tuesday.
Survivors revealed that the vessel had left The Gambia six days earlier. Most of the migrants on board were Gambian and Senegalese nationals.
Authorities reported that the boat capsised around 60 kilometers north of Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital. Divers have been deployed to inspect the wreck and assist in the ongoing search for missing passengers.
A senior coastguard officer explained that the migrants shifted to one side after spotting lights from a coastal town. This sudden movement caused the vessel to overturn.
The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands has seen a surge in migrant crossings. In 2023 alone, nearly 47,000 people arrived there, making it one of the busiest and most dangerous migration routes. The Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras estimates that over 9,000 migrants lost their lives attempting the crossing last year.
Helen Maleno, spokesperson for Caminando Fronteras, described the disaster as one of the worst “tragedies of this summer.” She urged Mauritanian authorities to continue their search-and-rescue efforts to recover more victims.
This incident comes amid criticism of Mauritania’s handling of migrants. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch accused Mauritanian security forces of mistreating migrants, alleging that the situation worsened after an agreement with Spain and the European Union to curb irregular sea crossings.
The accident highlights the extreme risks faced by migrants seeking a better life in Europe. As the boat capsised tragedy unfolds, international organizations continue to call for stronger protections and safer migration policies.
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