At least 89 migrants, and possibly as many as 105, are confirmed dead after a boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania this week. The tragedy highlights the perilous journey many West Africans undertake in search of a better life in Europe.
The overcrowded vessel, carrying an estimated 170 people, went down near the southwestern town of Ndiago. The Mauritanian coast guard recovered 89 bodies and rescued nine survivors, including a young girl. Locals in Ndiago reported burying bodies recovered from the coast since Monday, suggesting the death toll could be even higher.
This incident underscores the dangers of the Atlantic migration route, known as one of the deadliest in the world. Summer months see a surge in attempts to reach the Canary Islands, a stepping stone to mainland Spain. Data from migration rights group Walking Borders paints a grim picture, with nearly 5,000 migrants losing their lives at sea in the first five months of 2024 alone. Meanwhile, arrivals in the Canary Islands during that period skyrocketed to over 16,500, a fivefold increase compared to the previous year.
