At least 21 migrants killed as boat sinks off Senegalese coast

At least 21 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Senegal, while rescue teams continued searching for possible survivors, authorities said on Sunday.

According to Senegal’s Interior Ministry, rescuers had recovered 21 bodies and managed to save one person by Saturday evening. The incident occurred off the coast of Kebemer, a town located around 180 kilometres north of the capital, Dakar.

Search and rescue operations were continuing in the area as authorities looked for other people who may have survived the accident.

The boat was carrying people attempting to migrate irregularly, but the ministry did not disclose how many passengers were on board when it sank.

The latest tragedy highlights the dangers faced by thousands of migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Atlantic Ocean route from West Africa.

Many migrants undertake the perilous journey in overcrowded and poorly equipped boats, hoping to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.

According to migrant rights organisation Walking Borders, 635 people died while attempting the crossing during the first five months of this year.

The United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has identified the Atlantic route as a major pathway used by West African migrants travelling towards Europe.

Despite the risks, the route continues to attract people seeking better economic opportunities and safer living conditions, with repeated shipwrecks claiming hundreds of lives.