Tragedy in Mauritania: Boat carrying migrants capsizes, leaving at least 49 dead, and only 17 survivors found so far.
In a heartbreaking incident, a boat carrying West African migrants capsized off the coast of Mheijrat, Mauritania on Tuesday morning. According to the head of the Mauritanian coast guard, Mohamed Abdallah, at least 49 people have lost their lives and 17 have been rescued so far. The boat originated from Gambia and had at least 160 people on board, including Senegalese and Gambian nationals.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangerous journey that many West African migrants undertake in search of a better life in Europe. As economic opportunities dwindle across the region, an increasing number of migrants have been attempting to reach Europe via the Atlantic coast route.
Human rights groups have accused Mauritania of abuse towards migrants in a nationwide coastal crackdown. Last year, Mauritania signed a 210 million euro (£182 million) deal with the European Union to deter migrants from using the country to reach the EU. Despite this, the incident indicates that the measures may not be effective in preventing such tragedies.
No further information about the cause of the capsizing was provided. Captain Mohamed Ghaber, the person serving as the head of the Coast Guard in Mauritania, confirmed the incident to the AP. It is unclear at this time what the current status or search for survivors is.
This is not the first such incident in Mauritania's waters. In July 2024, a similar incident resulted in more than a dozen migrant deaths off Mauritania, with 150 others declared missing. In September last year, at least 30 bodies were found on a boat off the coast of the Senegalese capital.
In recent years, Mauritania's waters have become a popular route for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe, particularly the Canary Islands. The fate of those who are still missing remains unknown, and the loss of life serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that migrants face in their quest for a better life.
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