At least 34 dead as small boat sinks off Senegal

At least 34 people have died after a small boat carrying migrants and refugees capsized off the northwestern coast of Senegal, highlighting the continuing dangers faced by people attempting to reach Europe through irregular migration routes.

The Senegalese Interior Ministry confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, November 8, saying that one person had been rescued.

The Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported the death toll, which was also confirmed in a statement by Action for Human Rights and Friendship (ADHA).

Media reports indicate that the pirogue-type, flat-bottomed boat capsized on Saturday off the Loumpoul dunes in the Kebemer department, an area located between Dakar and the northern city of Saint-Louis.

According to Le Soleil newspaper, most of the victims were from the Leona and Thieppe districts within the Kebemer department.

The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the number of people who were aboard the boat and the precise cause of the capsizing, were not immediately clear.

The tragedy adds to the growing number of deaths recorded along the Atlantic migration route from West Africa towards Spain’s Canary Islands.

Thousands of migrants and refugees have died in recent years while attempting the dangerous sea journey. According to migrant rights organisation Walking Borders, at least 635 people died on the route during the first five months of 2026.

The Atlantic crossing is considered particularly dangerous because of its long distances, unpredictable weather and the use of overcrowded, often poorly equipped boats.

The incident comes amid another increase in migrant arrivals in Spain’s Canary Islands.

Authorities on the island of El Hierro declared an emergency on Saturday following a surge in arrivals by sea.

Since the beginning of November, more than 3,300 people had reportedly arrived on the island aboard approximately 30 boats, according to local authorities.

The latest developments underscore the continuing humanitarian challenges along the Atlantic migration route, where people fleeing difficult conditions or seeking better opportunities risk their lives in attempts to reach Europe.