At least 89 killed as boat capsizes off Africa

The Mauritanian National News Agency reported that a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of the country on Monday, resulting in at least 89 deaths. Mauritanian coast guard officials recovered the bodies of the victims after the incident; these victims were traveling on a large, traditional fishing vessel.

The news agency also noted that a total of 9 people were rescued from the accident, including a five-year-old girl. The incident reportedly occurred in the Atlantic Ocean, about 4 kilometers from the southwestern city of Ndiago.

According to survivors, the boat departed from the Gambia-Senegal border six days prior, with Europe as its destination, carrying at least 170 migrants. Every year, thousands of West African migrants risk crossing the Atlantic and Mediterranean in search of work and opportunities in Europe.

A 2024 report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that voyages across the Atlantic are considered extremely dangerous due to the long distances involved. "Migrants often spend long periods at sea in rudimentary vessels in the Atlantic, where specialized rescue operations are lacking."