The capsizing of a small boat carrying migrants off the northwest coast of Senegal left 21 dead. Senegalese officials reported that the incident occurred near Kayar, about 180 kilometers north of the capital, Dakar.
Details of the Incident
According to received reports, only one person has survived the incident and 21 bodies have been retrieved from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Senegalese Ministry of the Interior stated that this figure is "temporary" and further search operations are underway. In recent years, thousands of migrants have set out from the shores of Senegal to reach the Canary Islands of Spain.
Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
The Senegalese Ministry of the Interior emphasized the government's determination to combat human trafficking networks and stated that cooperation with neighboring countries will be strengthened. Officials also announced that on Friday, they stopped 142 migrants who were attempting to reach Spain in a similar boat. This boat included citizens from several West African countries.
Increase in Migrant Arrivals to the Canary Islands
In this context, officials on the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands of Spain declared a state of emergency on Saturday, as the number of boats carrying migrants has significantly increased. So far, more than 3,300 people have arrived on this island since the beginning of this month with about 30 boats. Alpidio Armas, the president of the regional council of El Hierro, stated in an interview with Spanish television that they are concerned about this sharp increase in the number of migrants and that declaring a state of emergency is necessary to create a framework for cooperation with higher authorities.
Armas also referred to the unfavorable conditions of the island's hospital and stated that these conditions are extremely concerning.
History of Migration
The arrival of migrants to the Canary Islands reached its highest level in 2024, with 46,000 people. However, after that, due to increased monitoring and cooperation with African countries, the number of migrants has significantly decreased.
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