At least 34 killed after migrant boat sinks off Senegal

At least 34 people have died after a small migrant boat sank off Senegal’s northwestern coast, in the latest tragedy on the hazardous Atlantic route to Spain’s Canary Islands. The Senegalese Press Agency reported the toll, which was later confirmed by Action for Human Rights and Friendship, according to France 24. An initial statement from Senegal’s interior ministry said 21 bodies had been recovered and only one person rescued, while warning that the figures were provisional as the search continued.

An indeterminate number of people remained missing. The boat, described as a pirogue-type craft, sank near the Loumpoul dunes in the Kebemer department, between Dakar and the northern city of Saint-Louis. Reports differed over the timing: media accounts placed the capsizing on Saturday, while Saliou Diouf of migrant-aid group Boza Fii told AFP that it occurred on Friday.

The nationalities of all those on board had not been confirmed, although Diouf said the bodies recovered on Saturday were Senegalese. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said state authorities and resources had been mobilised to locate missing people, care for survivors and support families. He also pledged to pursue those organising the voyages and said young people should not have the sea as their only prospect.

The interior ministry said it would strengthen cooperation with neighbouring countries against people-smuggling networks. The disaster came shortly after Senegalese authorities intercepted another boat carrying 142 people who were attempting to reach Spanish territory. Police said that group included 23 women, two babies and two other children, with passengers from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Nigeria.

Thousands of people have died in recent years while attempting the Atlantic crossing from West Africa to the Canary Islands. Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco have increased maritime patrols around departure points, according to France 24, potentially pushing boats farther south toward Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea and lengthening the already dangerous journey. The route’s pressure is also being felt in the Canary Islands.

Authorities on El Hierro declared an emergency after reporting that more than 3,300 people had arrived on roughly 30 boats since the start of November. Alpidio Armas, head of the island’s regional council, said the increase had created difficult conditions at the local hospital. El Hierro has about 11,400 residents.

Arrivals to the Canary Islands reached a record 46,000 in 2024 before falling sharply as surveillance and cooperation with African countries increased. The latest surge, together with the deaths off Senegal, has nevertheless highlighted the continuing risks of journeys made in small and vulnerable boats. Search operations and efforts to identify those killed were still under way when the reports were published.