Death toll rises to 34 as boat capsizes en route to Europe across Atlantic

At least 34 people have died after a boat capsized off the coast of Senegal while crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Spain's Canary Islands in Europe. The Senegal Press Agency (APS) reported that the tragic accident occurred between the country's capital Dakar and the northern city of Saint Louis.

Senegal's interior ministry said only one person had been rescued alive so far, but it was not yet clear how many people were missing. The bodies recovered were all Senegalese, said Saliou Diouf, founder of the Senegalese migrant aid group Boza Fee. Rescue efforts are underway to identify other passengers on the boat and search for the missing.

Expressing deep sorrow over the horrific incident, Senegalese President Bassiro Diouf Faye expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and urged young people to refrain from such risky sea voyages, pledging to crack down on human trafficking rings.

The Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands is a dangerous route for migrants. According to the Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders, 635 people died on the route between January and May of this year. In fact, about 21 out of every 100 people trying to reach the Canary Islands die on this route.

Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared on the Spanish island of El Hierro due to the migrant crisis. According to local authorities, more than 3,300 people have arrived on the island in about 30 boats since the beginning of November alone. Earlier, last Friday, Senegalese authorities intercepted another boat carrying 142 migrants bound for Spain.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a lack of employment, family pressures and the hope of better incomes abroad are driving Senegal’s youth to take these dangerous paths, putting their lives at great risk. According to the country’s statistics agency, almost one in four young people in Senegal was unemployed in the second quarter of 2026, a major challenge for the country’s young population. To address this crisis, the Senegalese government has announced plans to step up operations against human trafficking and smuggling rings, as well as increase cooperation with neighboring countries.

Source: BBC