At least six people have died following a boat capsizing off Senegal’s coast over the weekend. A spokesperson for the West African country’s armed forces confirmed the tragedy on Monday.
The vessel, a narrow wooden pirogue, was carrying about 100 migrants from the town of Mbour.
It capsized after traveling only 4 km (2.5 miles), according to state broadcaster Radio Television Senegalaise (RTS).
Four individuals were rescued, but many remain missing, RTS reported.
The navy has dispatched a plane and two boats to continue the search for survivors and deceased.
The perilous journey from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands is increasingly popular among migrants.
This route has experienced a 154% increase this year, with 21,620 arrivals in the first seven months, as reported by the European Union border agency Frontex.
Spain anticipates that up to 150,000 more migrants from Africa may attempt the crossing in the coming months.
On Friday, France’s navy intercepted two pirogues carrying 276 migrants off Senegal’s coast, according to a post by the Senegalese Navy on X.
