DAKAR: Senegal’s navy has recovered at least 30 bodies from a wooden fishing boat, known as a pirogue, found adrift approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) off the coast of Dakar after authorities were alerted to the vessel late Sunday, the army said on Monday.
In a statement released on social media, the Senegalese army said that investigations are underway to determine the origin of the boat and to verify the total number of casualties.
The vessel was towed to the port of Dakar early Monday morning, where medical teams, fire service personnel, and sanitation workers were on standby for the recovery operations.
The army said that the process of recovery, identification, and transfer is complicated by the advanced decomposition of the bodies. “So far, 30 bodies have been counted,” the statement said.
Senegal’s coastline is a known departure point for many migrants attempting to reach Europe, with many hoping to cross the treacherous Atlantic route to the Spanish Canary Islands. This route is notorious for its perilous conditions, strong currents, and the high risk of overcrowding in unseaworthy boats, leading to numerous tragedies each year.
Just last month, at least 39 people lost their lives when another migrant vessel sank off the western port town of Mbour. Following that tragedy, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye pledged to intensify efforts to combat human trafficking and urged young people to remain in the West African nation.
The plight of migrants seeking better opportunities in Europe has intensified this year, with more than 22,000 reaching the Canary Islands so far in 2023, a figure that more than doubles the total from the previous year.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had signed agreements with Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania in late August to promote legal migration pathways and address labor needs.
