At least 30 decomposing bodies were discovered aboard a drifting vessel approximately 70 kilometers (38 nautical miles) off the coast of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, according to a statement by the Senegalese military on Monday.
The navy was alerted to the boat’s presence on Sunday, prompting the immediate dispatch of a patrol boat to the scene. “So far, thirty bodies have been counted,” the military reported, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact death toll and the boat’s origin.
The advanced state of decomposition has made the identification of the victims significantly more difficult, authorities stated.
This tragic discovery highlights the dangers of the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, often used by migrants attempting to reach Spain. According to migration rights group Walking Borders, nearly 5,000 migrants died at sea in the first five months of 2024 while trying to make the perilous journey.
Key Points:
- At least 30 decomposing bodies were found in a boat drifting 70 kilometers (38 nautical miles) off the coast of Dakar, Senegal.
- The Senegalese navy was alerted to the boat’s presence on Sunday and immediately dispatched a patrol boat.
- The advanced state of decomposition is complicating the process of identifying the victims.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine the boat’s origin and confirm the exact death toll.
- The Atlantic migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is known as one of the deadliest, with nearly 5,000 migrant deaths recorded in the first five months of 2024.
