50 Migrants Feared Dead as Boat Sinks on Journey from West Africa to Spain

50 Migrants Feared Dead as Boat Sinks on Journey from West Africa to Spain

Madrid: Up to 50 migrants attempting to reach Spain by sea from West Africa are feared to have drowned, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders.

Moroccan authorities rescued 36 survivors from a boat on Wednesday that had departed Mauritania on January 2, carrying 86 people, including 66 Pakistanis. Walking Borders, based in Madrid and Navarra, reported the incident, stating they had alerted relevant authorities about the missing vessel six days earlier.

Relatives of the drowned Pakistani migrants claimed that human traffickers had anchored the boat at sea, demanding additional money before allowing the journey to continue.

The NGO Alarm Phone, which provides emergency assistance to migrants lost at sea, said it informed Spain’s maritime rescue service about the boat on January 12. However, the service stated it had no information about the vessel.

Regional and International Response

Fernando Clavijo, the regional leader of Spain’s Canary Islands, expressed condolences for the victims, calling for urgent action from Spain and Europe to prevent further loss of life.

“The Atlantic cannot continue to be the graveyard of Africa,” Clavijo posted on X. “We cannot turn our backs on this humanitarian tragedy.”

Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno revealed on X that 44 of the deceased were from Pakistan.

“They spent 13 agonizing days at sea without anyone coming to rescue them,” Maleno stated.

Migrant Crisis in the Atlantic

The perilous Atlantic route from West Africa to Spain is one of the deadliest migration paths globally, with thousands risking their lives each year to reach European shores. The tragedy underscores the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to address human trafficking and enhance migrant safety at sea.