At least 144 people, including Sudanese nationals, died in a single week while attempting to cross the perilous Atlantic migration route off Mauritania, the UN refugee agency said.
The UNHCR said the deaths occurred between July 14 and 18 as migrants sought to reach Europe by sea.
Rescuers saved 387 people in three separate operations near Nouadhibou during the same period.
The victims included people from several nationalities, although authorities have not released further details about their identities or the circumstances of the drownings.
The UN agency described the Atlantic route as one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors.
The deaths highlight the extreme risks faced by displaced people who undertake dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and a better future.
