At least 30 bodies found on boat off Senegal

The Senegalese navy received information about the boat's presence on Sunday evening and immediately dispatched a patrol boat to the area, according to a statement from the military.

Senegalese youth on the beach in Fass Boye, Senegal, August 29, 2023. Photo: Felipe Dana/AP

“So far, 30 bodies have been counted,” the statement said, adding that investigations would provide more precise information about the number of fatalities and the origin of the boat.

The bodies were badly decomposed, making identification difficult, according to military information.

The Atlantic migration route from the West African coast to the Canary Islands, commonly used by African migrants trying to reach Spain, is one of the most dangerous in the world.

Nearly 5,000 migrants died at sea in the first five months of 2024 while trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands, an unprecedented record, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders.

Illegal migration from West Africa has been on the rise along this route, driven by poverty, political instability and the desire for a better life. Experts warn that harsh weather conditions, lack of safety equipment and dangers at sea have turned the journey into a “graveyard” for many migrants.

Hong Hanh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/it-nhat-30-thi-the-dang-phan-huy-duoc-tim-thay-tren-thuyen-ngoai-khoi-senegal-post313638.html