On November 9, Senegal’s relevant authorities announced the latest search and rescue results related to a tragic incident off the northwestern coast of the country, where a boat carrying illegal migrants sank. This disaster has claimed at least 39 lives, with only one survivor found so far, as the search and rescue operations continue.
Reports indicate that the wooden boat, which was overcrowded with migrants, had set off from the northern city of Saint-Louis. The vessel aimed to cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach Spain’s Canary Islands but capsized off the coast of Kebemer, located in the Louga region of northwestern Senegal.
The location of the incident is approximately 180 kilometers north of the capital city, Dakar, marking one of the most severe maritime disasters Senegal has experienced in recent years.
Following the incident, Senegal’s rescue services promptly organized personnel for search and rescue operations. However, challenges were encountered as certain coastal areas are difficult to access, compounded by strong ocean currents pushing bodies southward, significantly hampering the efforts.
As of Monday, rescuers had recovered a total of 39 bodies along approximately 25 kilometers of coastline, with 24 identified and returned to their families. Eleven others remain unidentified, and four bodies, due to severe decomposition, were buried on-site. Currently, only one individual has been rescued, while several others remain unaccounted for.
Local media reports suggest that the distressed boat had possibly run aground last Friday. The exact number of passengers onboard is still unconfirmed, making it difficult to ascertain the total number of missing persons, and investigations into the incident’s cause are ongoing.
Saliou Diouf, founder of the Senegalese migrant assistance organization Boza Fii, stated in an interview that by Sunday evening, the bodies that had been recovered and brought ashore were confirmed to be Senegalese nationals. However, the nationalities of the other individuals aboard the vessel are still being verified.
Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims via social media on Sunday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating more opportunities for the youth in the country to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
Additionally, Makhtar Cissé, the Minister of the Interior and Public Safety, visited the site of the tragedy on Monday to oversee the operation. He announced that the government will provide support to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries to combat the organized criminal networks involved in human trafficking and illegal migration.
This heart-wrenching incident underscores the increasing number of African migrants who risk their lives seeking a better future through this perilous “Atlantic Route.” The Canary Islands, as a destination, have recently declared a state of emergency due to a surge of illegal migrants arriving within a short period.