At least 39 people have lost their lives after a small wooden boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Senegal while heading for Spain’s Canary Islands, according to Senegalese authorities.
The vessel went down between the capital, Dakar, and the northern city of Saint-Louis. Only one survivor has been reported so far, and officials say they do not yet know how many people remain missing. Twenty-four of the dead have been identified.
Rescue teams are combing about 25 kilometres of coastline, but strong currents and difficult terrain are slowing the search.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye sent condolences to the families, appealed to young Senegalese not to attempt the crossing and pledged to step up action against the networks that organise the journeys.
A Spanish migrant rights group recorded 635 deaths on the Atlantic route between January and May this year, the highest of any route it tracks.
Compiled by Sweet Melodies FM from reporting by BBC News. Read the original report.
