![In this file photo from September 2023, 178 migrants of different 14 nationalities are rescued by the Spanish NGO Open Arms in international waters [File: Jose Colon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images]](https://theafricadailypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/refugees-860x460.jpg)
Nouakchott, Mauritania – July 24th, 2024 – A devastating maritime tragedy has unfolded off the coast of Mauritania, leaving at least 15 people confirmed dead and over 150 missing. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the incident on Wednesday, involving a vessel carrying an estimated 300 passengers that capsized near the capital city of Nouakchott.
The ill-fated boat, likely carrying migrants attempting to reach Spain via the Canary Islands, had been at sea for seven days before the disaster struck. The Atlantic route is notorious for its perils, with summer being the peak season for such dangerous journeys.
According to the IOM, Mauritanian coastguards were able to rescue 120 individuals, with ten requiring immediate medical attention. Search efforts for the missing passengers are ongoing.
Local fishmonger Ibba Sarr, who works at a Nouakchott waterfront market, described the grim scene. Strong winds, he said, had pushed bodies closer to shore in recent days, with around 30 recovered from the beach. “Sadly,” Sarr added, “more bodies are likely to be found in the coming days.” The stricken boat, Sarr confirmed, lay just 400 meters north of his market.
Mauritanian authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
Data from the IOM reveals a staggering 160% increase in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. This comes amid a separate report from migration rights group Walking Borders, which estimates nearly 5,000 migrants perished at sea in the first five months of this year while attempting to reach the Spanish archipelago.
