30 bodies found in boat adrift off Senegal coast: army

By AFP
September 24, 2024
Migrants use wooden boats like this to try and reach the Canary Islands across the Atlantic Ocean. — AFP/File
Migrants use wooden boats like this to try and reach the Canary Islands across the Atlantic Ocean. — AFP/File

DAKAR: Senegal´s navy has recovered at least 30 bodies from a boat discovered adrift around 70-kms off the coast of the capital Dakar, the army said on Monday.

Investigations are under way to establish where the vessel came from and to confirm the death toll, the army said in a statement posted on social media. Senegal´s coastline sees frequent tragedies involving attempts to reach Europe by boat.

After being alerted to the incident late Sunday, a navy patrol towed the adrift, long, wooden fishing boat known as a pirogue to the port of Dakar where it arrived around 06:00 am (GMT) on Monday, the statement said. A team of doctors, fire service personnel and sanitation workers awaited the convoy´s arrival, it added.