At least 70 people have died after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania in one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in recent years on the Atlantic route to Europe, Gambian authorities confirmed late Friday.
The vessel, which had departed from Gambia and was carrying mostly Gambian and Senegalese nationals, sank early Wednesday with an estimated 150 people on board. Mauritanian officials said 70 bodies had been recovered by Thursday, while 16 survivors were rescued. Dozens more remain missing, with witness accounts suggesting the death toll could exceed 100.
The incident highlights the growing dangers of the Atlantic migration route, where thousands attempt to reach Spain’s Canary Islands each year. According to the European Union, over 46,000 migrants arrived in the Canaries in 2024, while rights group Caminando Fronteras estimates that more than 10,000 people died attempting the crossing, a sharp rise compared to the previous year.
Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged citizens to avoid such journeys, warning of the “tragic loss of life” that continues to devastate families across the region.