The interior ministry of Senegal reported that at least 39 people have died after a migrant vessel capsized between Dakar and Saint-Louis on its way to Spain’s Canary Islands.
Rescue teams are searching along a 25km (15-mile) stretch of coastline, but efforts have been hampered by strong ocean currents pushing bodies further south and limited accessibility to the area. As of Monday morning, four bodies were recovered in an advanced state of decomposition and buried following a collective funeral prayer organized by local fire services.
Senegalese authorities confirmed all bodies retrieved by Sunday evening were from Senegal; nationalities of other individuals aboard remain undetermined due to ongoing search operations.
Of the 39 victims, 24 have been identified and returned to their families. Eleven others are still awaiting identification.
In response, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed condolences to affected families and urged Senegalese nationals not to risk life on dangerous sea crossings. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), he pledged to intensify efforts to dismantle networks organizing such journeys: 'We will relentlessly continue the fight against those who organise these crossings and the work that gives our young people reasons to hope here.'
The incident occurs amid growing concerns over the dangers of Atlantic migration routes. Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders recorded 635 deaths between January and May 2 as part of its monitoring of the route to the Canary Islands — the highest toll among all monitored paths.
Walking Borders estimates that for every 100 migrants reaching Spain’s Canary Islands, approximately 21 die during transit.
In a separate development, Senegalese authorities intercepted another boat on Friday carrying 142 migrants attempting to reach Spain. The group included 23 women, two babies, and two children; nationalities were reported as Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Nigeria.
A state of emergency was declared on Spanish island El Hierro on Saturday following a surge in arrivals. Since November, more than 3,300 people have reached the island via about 30 boats — representing nearly one-third of its population, which is among Europe’s primary entry points for West African migrants.
Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands regional government, described the situation as 'absolutely unsustainable' according to Reuters news agency reports.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) identifies limited employment opportunities, family pressures, and established migration networks as key drivers behind departures from Senegal. Nearly one in four young people in Senegal was unemployed during Q2 2026, highlighting economic challenges that influence migration decisions.
The Senegalese interior ministry stated it will continue efforts to combat human smuggling by strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries.