Migrants: the sinking of a canoe off Senegal has left at least 140 dead

Fishermen on the Senegalese coast, in Thiaroye, from where migrants left for Spain, many years ago (Photo illustration).

AP Photo / Babacar Dione

Text by: RFI Follow

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"At least 140 people" died in the sinking of a migrant boat last week off the coast of Senegal.

This is the worst disaster of this type in 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday.

The boat was carrying around 200 people.

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“ 

 ” said the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Without specifying the number of passengers, the Senegalese authorities had announced a death toll of at least 10, for about sixty people rescued

which caused great emotion in this West African country.

“ 

 ” IOM said in a statement.

" 

Between October 7 and 25, the Senegalese navy, supported by the Spanish Guardia Civil, intercepted five canoes bound for Europe, rescuing a total of 388 people, according to the government, which reports " 

 " arrested. .

One of these canoes was seriously damaged when a fire broke out on board on 23 October off Mbour, more than 80 km south-east of Dakar, caused by " 

 ”, according to the government.

The IOM version is slightly different.

Members of local communities told him that the boat left Mbour on October 24, and not on October 23, and that it was off Saint-Louis, the last Senegalese city before Mauritania, that the fire occurred. a few hours later and the boat capsized.

According to IOM information, the boat intended to reach the Spanish Canary Islands archipelago, off Morocco.

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• Senegal

• International Migration

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