Rescuers recovered at least 20 bodies from the sea off northern Senegal on Wednesday following a tragic incident where a boat carrying migrants bound for Europe sank.
Alioune Badara Samb, a regional governor, confirmed the distressing news, expressing concerns for those still missing.
“A little more than 20 bodies” have been retrieved, stated Saint-Louis regional governor Alioune Badara Samba, with an additional 20 individuals rescued. Local rescuers and the navy continued search efforts for survivors into the night.
While the exact number of passengers aboard the vessel remains unspecified, survivors suggested that the count could have been in the hundreds. Mamady Dianfo, a survivor from Casamance in southern Senegal, estimated around 300 passengers, while Alpha Balde, another survivor, mentioned 200.
According to Dianfo, the vessel had departed from Senegal a week prior, eventually reaching Morocco. However, the captain claimed to be disoriented and unable to proceed with the journey, prompting passengers to request a return to Senegal. Tragically, the incident occurred in the perilous waters near Saint-Louis.
Senegal’s coast has become a common departure point for African migrants aiming for the Spanish Canary Islands, a gateway to Europe. Frontex, the EU’s border agency, noted Senegal and Morocco as the most prevalent nationalities among migrants arriving on the Atlantic archipelago.
The Spanish government reported a significant increase in migrants reaching the Canaries in 2023, with nearly 40,000 arrivals, triple the previous year’s figure.