At least 34 people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Senegal while attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands, according to the Senegalese Press Agency (APS), citing an official source.
Senegal’s Interior Ministry said one person had been rescued following the incident, while the number of people still missing remained unknown.
The small wooden vessel overturned in the Atlantic Ocean between Dakar, Senegal’s capital, and the northern city of Saint-Louis, as it was making its way towards the Canary Islands, a major entry point for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
The incident highlights the persistent dangers facing migrants attempting the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, one of the deadliest irregular migration routes in the world.
According to Spanish migrant rights organisation Walking Borders, at least 635 people died while attempting to reach the Canary Islands by sea between January and May 2026, making the Atlantic route the deadliest among the migration routes monitored by the organisation.
The crossing is particularly dangerous because of its long distances, unpredictable weather conditions and strong ocean currents. Many migrants undertake the journey aboard overcrowded, poorly equipped wooden boats, often without adequate navigation or safety equipment.
The latest tragedy adds to growing concerns over migrant deaths along the West African Atlantic corridor, where thousands of people continue to risk their lives in attempts to reach Europe.
