- A wooden pirogue carrying about 100 migrants capsized
- The perilous West Africa-to-Canary Islands route has seen a 154% increase
- Spain and France have intensified naval patrols
A devastating maritime incident off Senegal’s coast has resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals.
A wooden fishing boat, or pirogue, carrying around 100 migrants capsized just four kilometers from Mbour. While four survivors have been rescued, numerous people are still unaccounted for.
Senegal’s armed forces have initiated a search and rescue mission to find those missing and recover the bodies of the deceased.
The perilous journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands has become increasingly popular, with migrant attempts surging by 154% this year alone. Over 21,000 migrants have reached the Canary Islands in the first seven months of 2024.
Authorities predict that the number of migrants undertaking this dangerous crossing could rise to 150,000 in the coming months.
In response, Spain and France have boosted their naval operations in the area to aid and intercept those in distress.
