A boat carrying migrants overturned off the coast of Senegal over the weekend, resulting in at least four deaths and leaving several others missing, local authorities reported. 

The fishing boat departed the town of Mbour, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Dakar on Sunday afternoon (September 8), heading towards Europe. It capsized just a few miles off the coast, district prefect Amadou Diop told the Associated Press (AP).

Local fishermen rescued three individuals, who were brought ashore by naval authorities. Senegal's navy is continuing the search for those still missing, though the exact number of passengers remains unknown, according to Diop. 

Atlantic route sees surge in irregular migration

There has been a significant increase in the number of migrants departing West Africa via Senegal in recent years. Driven by conflict, poverty, and a shortage of job opportunities, many aim for the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago approximately 1,500 kilometers (about 930 miles) away, which serves as a gateway to mainland Europe. 

Since the start of 2024, over 22,300 people have arrived on the Canary Islands, marking a 126 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from Spain's Interior Ministry.

Figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) meanwhile showed that between January and March 2024, 13,115 migrants reached the Canary Islands irregularly after crossing by boat from the coasts of West Africa, an increase of 502 percent compared to 2023 (2,178 migrants).

One of the most dangerous migration routes in the world

The Atlantic irregular migrant route has become one of the most dangerous pathways to Europe. 

In August, the Senegalese army said it had arrested 453 migrants and "members of smuggling networks" as part of a 12-day operation patrolling the coastline. More than half of the arrested were Senegalese nationals, according to the army.

Also read: Mauritania – a new irregular migration gateway to Europe?

In July, a boat carrying 300 migrants –mostly from Gambia and Senegal – overturned off the coast of Mauritania, resulting in over a dozen deaths. At least 150 people went missing.

At least 12 shipwrecks were recorded along the West African Atlantic in the first quarter of 2024, resulting in the death or disappearance of 119 migrants.

Data on the West Africa Atlantic route remain "scarce and incomplete," the IOM has stated. There is currently no harmonized approach to data collection except on arrival in the Canary Islands. There is very little data on the actual number of departures and attempts from West African coasts, while shipwrecks are often not reported.

With AP