Nouakchott, Mauritania – August 29, 2025
A devastating maritime accident off the coast of Mauritania has claimed the lives of 69 migrants, according to local coastguard officials. The incident occurred late Tuesday night, roughly 80 kilometres north of the capital, Nouakchott.
Authorities say the boat, which had departed from The Gambia a week earlier, was carrying approximately 160 people, including nationals from Senegal and The Gambia. The vessel capsized when passengers reportedly shifted to one side after spotting lights from a nearby town, causing it to lose balance and overturn.
Seventeen survivors were rescued by coastguard patrols, while the death toll, initially reported as 49, was later revised to 69 following further recovery efforts.
This tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross treacherous waters in search of better opportunities. Many of these journeys are made aboard overcrowded and poorly maintained boats, often without proper safety measures.
The route between West Africa and Europe remains one of the deadliest migration corridors. In 2024 alone, over 10,000 people died trying to reach Spain by sea, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
While officials have not confirmed the intended destination of the migrants involved in Tuesday’s accident, the incident adds to a growing list of maritime disasters in recent months. Earlier in August, 76 migrants died off the coast of Yemen, and another 20 perished in the Mediterranean near Lampedusa.
As rescue operations continue and investigations unfold, humanitarian organisations are once again calling for safer migration pathways and stronger international cooperation to prevent future loss of life.
AFP
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