A shipwreck off the coast of Mauritania has claimed the lives of at least twenty-five migrants, with many more still unaccounted for. The incident occurred near Nouakchott, the capital city, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has stated that almost 200 individuals remain missing.
A rescue operation is underway to locate and aid those affected by this devastating event. According to a coastguard commander, the Mauritanian coastguard successfully rescued 103 migrants and recovered 25 bodies.
The IOM reported that about 300 individuals had boarded a wooden boat in Gambia and had been at sea for seven days before the boat capsized on July 22.
Upon the coastguard’s arrival, fifteen individuals were confirmed dead, and ten others were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Earlier this month, Mauritanian coastguards discovered the bodies of 89 migrants after their boat also capsized.
The IOM said that many of these migrants were attempting to reach the Canary Islands, situated off the coast of Morocco. This particular route from West Africa to the Spanish territory is known to be one of the most dangerous in the world.
In April, the European Union allocated € 210 million in aid to Mauritania, with a significant portion earmarked for combatting undocumented migration to Europe.