26 bodies recovered after migrant boat capsizes off Senegal

KIGALI, Rwanda

The death toll from a boat carrying migrants that capsized off Senegal’s coast rose to 26 following the discovery of 17 more bodies Tuesday, the Senegalese Navy said in a post on X.

The wooden boat was carrying more than 100 illegal migrants from the Senegalese town of Mbour when it sank after only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of navigation on Sunday, according to state broadcaster Radio Television Senegalaise (RTS).

“The navy units discovered 17 lifeless bodies. The remains were handed over to the fire brigade units. A total of 26 bodies were recovered from this shipwreck. The search continues,” the navy said.

Senegal's coasts are regularly used by African migrants heading to the Spanish Canary Islands, which serve as one of the main destinations for people trying to reach Europe.