More than 60 people have tragically died after a fishing vessel carrying asylum seekers from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands was found off Cape Verde, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Out of the 100 passengers on board, 38 survivors, including four children, were rescued. The wooden fishing vessel was discovered drifting in the Atlantic Ocean about 150 nautical miles from the Cape Verdean island of Sal. While initial reports suggested the vessel had sunk, it was later clarified that it was found adrift. The Spanish fishing boat that spotted the vessel alerted Cape Verdean authorities.
Although the exact timing of the incident is unknown, survivors have revealed that the boat departed from Senegal on July 10th. Emergency services have recovered the remains of seven people, while 56 others are believed to be missing. The dangerous maritime route from west Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the most perilous in the world. In 2022 alone, at least 559 people have died attempting to reach the Canary Islands. In the first half of this year, 126 people died or went missing, with 15 shipwrecks reported along the same route.
The lack of safe and legal migration pathways is a key factor that enables smugglers and traffickers to exploit vulnerable individuals and put them on these deadly journeys, according to the IOM. The situation has prompted increased attention on migration in Europe, including the UK. The European Union’s border and coastguard agency, Frontex, reported a 13% rise in irregular arrivals between January and July, totaling 176,100 individuals – the highest number for this period since 2016. This increase is primarily driven by a 115% surge in the number of people using the central Mediterranean route, which has become the main migratory route into the EU.
In recent weeks, multiple incidents have highlighted the hazards faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe. At least 11 migrants died and seven remain missing after their boat capsized off Tunisia’s coast. Additionally, 41 people are feared to have died after a boat sank in rough seas near the Italian island of Lampedusa in the central Mediterranean.
The tragic loss of life emphasizes the urgent need for safe and regular migration pathways, which would mitigate the risks associated with illegal journeys facilitated by smugglers and traffickers. International efforts must prioritize addressing the root causes of migration, promoting stability and development in countries of origin, and enhancing cooperation between nations to ensure the protection and well-being of migrants.