At least 24 people seeking to go to Europe have drowned off the coast of northern Senegal when their boat sank, local officials say.
Governor Alioune Badara Samb told AFP news agency their bodies were found on Wednesday.
The boat got caught in the Saint Louis estuary, where the Senegal River meets the Atlantic Ocean, which is known for its strong currents and areas of thick mud.
Witnesses say the ship was carrying more than 300 people.
The governor says it is unclear how many people were on board. Several survivors managed to reach shore.
President Macky Sall expressed “deep sadness” and his condolences for the victims’ families on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The relevant authorities have been mobilised to provide them with support and assistance,” he said.
Senegal’s coast is a common exit point for migrants fleeing poverty and unemployment.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
