50 Feared Dead as Small Boat to Canary Islands Sinks

The migration NGO Caminando Fronteras reported that a boat carrying 86 people left Mauritania on January 2, bound for the Canary Islands. After the boat encountered trouble, Moroccan and Spanish authorities were alerted. Moroccan rescuers managed to save 36 people, but 50 others, mostly from Pakistan, are feared drowned.

Helena Maleno, CEO of Caminando Fronteras, stated on X that the passengers endured 13 harrowing days at sea before rescue efforts reached them. “Fifty people have died, 44 of whom were Pakistani,” she wrote.

Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo expressed condolences and urged immediate action. “The Atlantic can’t remain Africa’s graveyard,” he wrote, calling on Spain and Europe to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Spain’s maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, confirmed it conducted an aerial search after receiving an alert on January 10 about a boat departing from Nouakchott, but it has no additional information on the tragedy.