At least 35 migrants have died after a boat carrying passengers attempting to reach Europe capsized off the northwestern coast of Senegal.
The incident occurred along the dangerous Atlantic migration route used by thousands of people from West Africa seeking to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
Emergency services confirmed the rising death toll to AFP on Sunday, adding that only one survivor had been rescued while an undetermined number of passengers remained missing.
An initial statement by Senegal’s Interior Ministry said 21 bodies had been recovered, with one survivor found, but noted that the figures were provisional as rescue operations continued.
The Senegalese Press Agency later reported that the death toll had risen to at least 34, a figure also confirmed by Action for Human Rights and Friendship, ADHA.
The toll subsequently increased to 35 on Sunday night, according to emergency services, who described the figure as provisional.
A source at the Interior Ministry warned that the number of casualties could increase further, saying, “The toll will unfortunately rise.”
Media reports said the pirogue, a traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat, capsized on Saturday off the Loumpoul dunes in the Kebemer department, between Dakar and the northern city of Saint-Louis.
However, Saliou Diouf, founder of Senegal’s leading migrant support organisation, Boza Fii, told AFP that the accident occurred on Friday.
He said the nationalities of all the victims had yet to be established, although those recovered on Saturday were Senegalese.
Reacting to the tragedy, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said all government agencies and resources had been deployed to search for missing passengers, assist survivors and support affected families.
“All state authorities and resources have been mobilised to locate those who have gone missing, provide care for the survivors and support families,” he wrote on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Senegalese authorities disclosed that they intercepted 142 migrants on Friday aboard another small boat heading towards Spain.
The group comprised 23 women, two babies and two other children, with passengers identified as nationals of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Nigeria.
The Interior Ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling human smuggling networks through stronger cooperation with neighbouring countries.
It also announced that the country’s interior minister would visit the affected region to meet families of the victims and convey the government’s condolences.
The latest tragedy comes amid a surge in migrant arrivals on Spain’s Canary Islands. Authorities on El Hierro declared an emergency on Saturday after more than 3,300 migrants arrived aboard approximately 30 boats since the beginning of November.
In recent months, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco have intensified maritime patrols around major departure points, forcing migrant boats to travel further south towards The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea.
The longer journeys have further increased the dangers facing migrants attempting the already perilous Atlantic crossing to Europe.
