At least 15 migrants have lost their lives and dozens remain unaccounted for after their boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and local sources. This tragedy adds to the growing list of fatal incidents occurring in the perilous waters off West Africa.
The IOM reported the grim news on Wednesday, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the death of 15 migrants and the estimated disappearance at sea of 195+ people after a boat capsized in Nouakchott.”
A Mauritanian coastguard official, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed that at least 25 bodies had been recovered and 103 individuals were rescued following the disaster on Monday. However, many more remain missing.
The ill-fated journey began in The Gambia, where approximately 300 people boarded a pirogue. After spending seven days at sea, the boat capsized near Nouakchott on July 22, 2024. The IOM detailed in a statement that 120 survivors were rescued by the Mauritanian Coast Guards, with ongoing efforts to locate the missing. “Approximately 300 people boarded a pirogue in The Gambia and spent seven days at sea before the boat capsized near Nouakchott on July 22, 2024,” stated the statement by the IOM.
“Among the survivors, 10 people were urgently referred to hospitals for medical care, and four unaccompanied and separated children were identified,” the IOM added.
The Mauritanian coastguard source revealed that the vessel, primarily carrying Senegalese and Gambian migrants, broke apart in the open sea. The captain reportedly abandoned the ship during the catastrophe.
The IOM’s statement highlighted the scale of recent maritime tragedies, noting that since June, over 76 boats carrying more than 6,000 migrants have landed in Mauritania. Sadly, at least 190 migrants have been reported dead or missing during this period.
Increasing Danger on the Atlantic Route
The incident underscores the extreme risks faced by thousands of Africans fleeing poverty and unemployment, seeking better lives in Europe. The Atlantic route to Spain’s Canary Islands is notoriously treacherous due to strong currents and the use of overloaded, often unseaworthy boats lacking adequate supplies.
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Despite these dangers, the route has grown more popular as authorities increase vigilance in the Mediterranean. The IOM reported a dramatic rise in irregular migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands, with over 19,700 people making the journey from January 1 to July 15, 2024, marking a 160 percent increase from the same period in 2023.
The perilous nature of these crossings was starkly illustrated in early July when nearly 90 Europe-bound migrants perished after their boat capsized off Mauritania. In May, another 26 migrants died when their boat sank off Senegal.
According to Caminando Fronteras, a Spanish charity, more than 5,000 migrants died attempting to reach Spain by sea in the first five months of this year, averaging 33 deaths per day. This figure represents the highest daily death toll since the charity began tracking these incidents in 2007, with most fatalities occurring on the Atlantic route
