Migrant Boat Capsizes off Mauritania, Leaving 69 Dead

Migrant Boat Capsizes off Mauritania, Leaving 69 Dead
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A vessel carrying approximately 160 migrants capsized off the coast of Mauritania earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of 69 people, The Guardian reported.

The accident occurred late on Tuesday, about 50 miles north of the capital, Nouakchott, when passengers aboard the vessel spotted the lights of a coastal town. According to Mohamed Abdallah, head of the coastguard, the occupants rushed to one side of the boat, causing it to overturn.

The boat, which left The Gambia about a week ago, was carrying nationals from Senegal and The Gambia. The initial death toll was 49, but a subsequent count raised the number to 69. Authorities rescued 17 survivors from the water.

The tragedy underscores the extreme dangers faced by would-be migrants attempting the perilous maritime journey to Europe. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 8,938 people died attempting to cross borders in 2024 alone. In a related development, a recent Human Rights Watch report documented abuses, including “prolonged, painful restraints, limited food and water, and other mistreatment,” of migrants by Mauritanian security officials.