Senegalese authorities have discovered at least 30 decomposing bodies in a boat drifting off the coast of the capital, Dakar. A statement from the state army says, the boat’s presence was reported on Sunday evening, prompting the immediate deployment of a naval patrol boat to the scene.
As investigations are underway to determine the exact death toll and origin of the vessel, the military noted that the recovery, identification, and transfer of the bodies have been significantly hampered due to their advanced state of decomposition.
The Atlantic migration route, stretching from West Africa to the Canary Islands, is notoriously dangerous, often used by migrants attempting to reach Spain.
According to Migration Rights Group, Walking Borders, nearly 5,000 migrants have lost their lives on this route in the first five months of 2024.
Report by Fatimah Ibrahim