A small boat carrying migrants sank off the northwest coast of Senegal, resulting in at least 34 fatalities. This incident occurred near Kébémer, located about 180 kilometers north of the capital, Dakar. According to reports, only one person from the boat has been rescued, and 21 bodies have been recovered from the water.
Increased danger of migrant sea journeys
In recent years, thousands have lost their lives at sea while attempting to reach the Canary Islands of Spain from the shores of Senegal. The Senegalese Ministry of the Interior has stated that the number of victims in this incident is "provisional" and that search operations for the missing are still ongoing. There are concerns that as dangerous sea journeys continue, the death toll may rise.
Senegal's efforts to combat human trafficking
The Senegalese Ministry of the Interior emphasized the government's commitment to fighting human trafficking networks and announced further cooperation with neighboring countries. The ministry also reported that on Friday, 142 migrants were intercepted in a similar boat heading towards Spanish territory. The boat included nationals from various West African countries.
In El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, authorities declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the number of migrants arriving on the island has significantly increased. Island officials reported that since the beginning of this month, over 3,300 people have arrived here from about 30 boats. Alpidio Armas, the president of the El Hierro regional council, stated in an interview: "We are extremely concerned about this sudden increase in arrivals."
He also pointed to the inadequate conditions of the island's hospitals, stating that the situation has become "unbearable." El Hierro has a population of about 11,400, and the influx of migrants has put additional pressure on local infrastructure.
The number of migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands reached a record 46,000 in 2024. However, following increased monitoring and cooperation with African countries, the number of arrivals has significantly decreased.
