Disaster off the coast of Senegal: At least 21 migrants drown to death on way to Europe

At least 21 migrants drowned after their boat capsized off the coast of Senegal. One person was rescued alive, and searches for additional survivors continue. Authorities fear the death toll may rise.

At least 21 people drowned after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Senegal in West Africa, the country's interior ministry announced on Sunday. Rescue teams have so far recovered only one survivor, and searches for others are ongoing. Authorities warned that the death toll is still preliminary and may increase. The disaster occurred off the coast of the Kébémer department in the northwest of the country, an area from which migrant boats depart for the Spanish-controlled Canary Islands. According to local reports, the boat capsized near the village of Lompoul, between the capital Dakar and the city of Saint-Louis. The circumstances of the sinking and the total number of passengers on board remain unclear. The Senegalese government expressed condolences to the victims' families and said it would continue to act against migrant smuggling networks. The disaster adds to a long series of tragedies on the Atlantic migration route, where thousands of people attempt each year to reach Europe from West Africa. According to the UN's International Organization for Migration, increased surveillance of traditional departure points is pushing migrants to choose longer and more dangerous routes, spanning up to 2,200 kilometers.