Over a dozen African migrants have died and more than 150 are missing after their boat capsized. Discover the details of this tragic incident.
The International Organization for Migration reported that over 12 migrants have lost their lives and approximately 150 are unaccounted for following the capsizing of their boat near Mauritania, while en route to Europe. This has prompted a desperate pursuit towards search and rescue operations.
On Monday, a boat carrying 300 migrants capsized near Nouakchott (the capital of Mauritania), with the Mauritanian Coast Guard successfully rescuing 120 individuals as stated by IOM on Wednesday.
It was confirmed that 15 people had tragically died upon arrival. Search efforts were still ongoing, according to the statement.
In recent years, there has been an influx of migrants leaving West Africa by way of Senegal and traveling north through Mauritania to reach the Canary Islands in Spain.
The most recent incident involved migrants who were on board pirogues, which are traditional fishing vessels that can be easily overpowered by strong winds and Atlantic currents. Despite many successfully completing the dangerous trip, numerous individuals often perish or vanish during transit, with their remains occasionally washing ashore across the Atlantic.
The IOM reported that four children, who were unaccompanied and separated, have been rescued in Monday’s incident. In addition to this, 10 survivors received medical attention after being referred to hospitals.
A frequent reason why African migrants seek to migrate towards Europe is due to their desire to escape from poverty and instability. It’s noteworthy that while it may appear as an independent decision, the choice of whether or not they should leave might sometimes be influenced by a family member on account of the potential benefits associated with leaving for them all.
According to the IOM, approximately 20,000 migrants have entered the Canary Islands illegally through the Mauritania path this year. This number is almost three times higher than that of last year’s corresponding phase. The IOM also stated that around 1,950 immigrants died while traveling via this route during the previous year—a total surpassed only by one other deadliest record on records.
