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At least 89 migrants died tragically on Monday when their vessel capsized off the coast of Mauritania, according to the state-run news agency. The Mauritanian Coast Guard recovered the bodies from the large, traditional fishing boat following the disaster.
Thankfully, nine individuals, including a young girl of five, were rescued from the wreckage. The capsizing occurred roughly four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the southwestern city of Ndiago, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Survivors reported that the vessel, which had departed the Gambia-Senegal border six days prior, was carrying approximately 170 migrants and aiming to reach Europe. This route is a perilous one, undertaken by thousands of West Africans each year seeking a better life in Europe.
A 2024 report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlights the exceptional dangers associated with the Atlantic crossing. The vast distances and inadequate vessels, coupled with the lack of dedicated rescue operations in this region, leave migrants dangerously exposed for extended periods.
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