Atleast 144 migrants dead or missing off Mauritania after boat bound for Spain is rescued, says UN
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Atleast 144 migrants dead or missing off Mauritania after boat bound for Spain is rescued, says UN
The survivors were among hundreds rescued off Mauritania’s coast last week, underscoring the dangers of the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Europe.
UN says at least 144 migrants are dead or missing after a boat travelling from Gambia to Spain was rescued off Mauritania, exposing the dangers of the Atlantic migration route. (Photo: X)
- 144 refugees/migrants dead or missing off Mauritania.
- Boat from Gambia to Spain rescued; only 38 survived.
- Atlantic route is one of the world’s deadliest migration paths.
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At least 144 refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after a boat travelling from Gambia towards Spain was rescued off the coast of Mauritania, the United Nations said on Tuesday, highlighting the mounting death toll along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said the vessel had departed from Bufalo in Gambia and was rescued on Saturday after spending nearly 25 days stranded at sea.
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Only 38 people survived the journey, while 143 others aboard the boat were reported dead or missing. Among the survivors were two children who had lost all of their family members during the voyage.
Separately, one person died aboard another vessel from which migrants disembarked in Mauritania on July 14, taking the total number of reported deaths and missing persons to 144.
Overall, Mauritanian authorities carried out three rescue and disembarkation operations between July 14 and 18 in the coastal city of Nouadhibou, bringing 387 refugees and migrants of various nationalities safely ashore, according to the UNHCR.
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“The refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after attempting the perilous sea journey from West Africa towards Europe, highlighting the continued human cost of these dangerous routes,” UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh said during a briefing in Geneva.
The Atlantic route linking West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands has become one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. Migrants often attempt the crossing in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, facing long distances, rough seas and limited access to rescue services.
The UNHCR said 17 rescue and disembarkation operations have been recorded in the Mauritanian cities of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott so far this year, with 2,147 people rescued.
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The latest tragedy comes as increasing numbers of migrants continue to risk the dangerous Atlantic crossing in hopes of reaching Europe, despite repeated warnings from humanitarian agencies about the growing number of deaths along the route.
Moneycontrol World Desk
first published: Jul 21, 2026 04:39 pm
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