Over 140 people died after a migrant vessel sailing to Spain’s Canary Islands sank off Mauritania, per media reports.

Authorities informed the Spanish News Agency EFE that 70 bodies were found and there were 17 survivors.

Walking Borders, a Spanish NGO, stated that around 160 people were on board the ship, with the head of the organisation, Helena Maleno, calling it one of the biggest tragedies of this summer.

The tragic incident occurred 60 km north of the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on Thursday.

The ship had departed from The Gambia.

The Canary Islands Migration journey involves sailing the Atlantic Ocean from northwest Africa to the Spanish Archipelago and is said to be one of the deadliest in the world.

Per figures, around 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024, but Walking Borders states that nearly 9750 lost their lives in the way.

Source: www.marineinsight.com