Senegal Boat Sinking Death Toll Rises to 39

Emergency services in Senegal have raised the death toll from a migrant boat sinking to at least 39 people. The incident occurred near the Lompoul dunes in Kébémer department, between Dakar and Saint-Louis. The vessel, described as a pirogue, a small, flat-bottomed boat used for crossings towards Spain's Canary Islands, went down on either Friday or Saturday.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye deployed personnel and resources to find those missing and assist affected families. He stated that all state authorities and resources had been mobilised to locate those who have gone missing, provide care for survivors and support families. The Senegalese Press Agency reported his assurance that state authorities were supporting the search and the victims' relatives.

The interior ministry announced that its minister would visit the area to meet bereaved families and convey the government's condolences. The ministry stressed its determination to combat people smuggling networks, notably through strengthened cooperation with neighbouring countries. State services would continue searching for passengers and supporting affected households.

The confirmed death toll increased through several updates over the weekend. Initially, 21 bodies and one survivor were reported, based on information available by Saturday evening. The number of deaths later rose to 34, then at least 35, before Monday's further increase to 39. An interior ministry source told AFP that the toll would unfortunately rise.

Accounts of when the boat sank differed, with some reports placing the incident on Saturday and Saliou Diouf, founder of the migrant assistance organisation Boza Fii, telling AFP that it happened on Friday. Diouf stated that authorities had yet to confirm the nationalities of everyone who died, but the bodies recovered were Senegalese.

In a separate operation on Friday, Senegalese authorities intercepted another small boat carrying 142 people attempting to reach Spain. The passengers came from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Nigeria. This incident occurred amid increased arrivals in the Canary Islands, a destination for people travelling by sea from West Africa.

The sinking highlights the risks of the Atlantic crossing from West Africa to the Spanish islands, which has resulted in thousands of deaths in recent years. Authorities on El Hierro declared an emergency following a rise in the number of boats reaching the island, with over 3,300 arrivals aboard approximately 30 boats since the beginning of November.

Key points

• The death toll from the Senegal boat sinking has risen to at least 39 people.
• The incident occurred near the Lompoul dunes in Kébémer department, between Dakar and Saint-Louis.
• The search continues for missing passengers, with authorities determined to combat people smuggling networks.