Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates that 21 out of every 100 people who reach the Canary Islands by sea die during the crossing (file photo)
At least 34 people have lost their lives after a wooden vessel carrying migrants overturned off Senegal’s coastline while travelling towards Spain’s Canary Islands.
The Senegalese Press Agency (APS), quoting an official source, reported that one passenger had been rescued, while authorities were still trying to determine how many others remained unaccounted for.
The accident occurred along the stretch of water between Dakar and Saint-Louis in northern Senegal.
Saliou Diouf, head of migrant support organisation Boza Fii, told AFP that the recovered victims were all Senegalese citizens.
However, the identities and nationalities of the remaining passengers had not been confirmed as rescue teams continued their search.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed sympathy to bereaved families and cautioned citizens against undertaking dangerous maritime journeys in pursuit of opportunities abroad.
In a message shared on X, he promised stronger action against criminal groups facilitating the illegal departures, adding that his administration would also pursue initiatives to improve opportunities for young people at home.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the growing humanitarian crisis along the Atlantic migration corridor.
According to Spanish advocacy organisation Walking Borders, 635 migrants perished while attempting to reach the Canary Islands between January and May 2026, making the passage the deadliest among the routes covered by its monitoring activities.
The organisation further estimated that approximately 21 people lost their lives for every 100 migrants who successfully arrived at the islands.
In a separate development, Senegalese security personnel intercepted another vessel on Friday carrying 142 people seeking to enter Spain.
The passengers included 23 women, two infants and two additional children, with citizens from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Nigeria among those identified.
Meanwhile, authorities on Spain’s El Hierro island announced a state of emergency on Saturday following a sharp increase in arrivals from West Africa.
Local officials disclosed that more than 3,300 migrants had landed on the island aboard approximately 30 vessels since the start of November, representing nearly one-third of its resident population.
Canary Islands regional leader Fernando Clavijo described the influx as “absolutely unsustainable”, according to Reuters.
The Atlantic passage has become increasingly popular as European governments strengthen border restrictions and deepen security partnerships with North African countries, potentially redirecting migration flows from the central Mediterranean.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) identifies unemployment, family expectations and established migrant connections as some of the reasons compelling Senegalese citizens to seek opportunities overseas.
Despite the dangers, many young people continue to view Europe as a destination offering better employment prospects and improved financial security.
Figures from Senegal’s national statistics agency indicate that almost 25 per cent of young people were unemployed during the second quarter of 2026.
The situation presents a major challenge for President Faye’s administration, which has pledged to expand employment opportunities for the country’s youthful population, a key constituency behind his victory in the 2024 elections.
In a separate Sunday announcement, the Interior Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling human-smuggling operations through stronger security measures and increased collaboration with neighbouring states.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong