At least 69 people lost their lives after a boat traveling from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands capsized off the coast of Morocco on December 19, according to Malian authorities. The makeshift vessel was carrying around 80 passengers, leaving only 11 survivors, Mali’s Ministry of Malians Abroad confirmed after reconstructing the incident.
The ministry announced the establishment of a crisis unit to monitor the situation.
This tragedy highlights the growing dangers of the Atlantic migration route, which connects West Africa to the Canary Islands. Data reveals a surge in attempts to use this route in 2024, with 41,425 arrivals recorded from January to November—already surpassing last year’s record of 39,910.
Drivers of the migration include years of conflict in the Sahel region, widespread unemployment, and the devastating impact of climate change on agricultural communities.
On Friday, December 27, another death was reported among 300 migrants who arrived on six boats to El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, the Red Cross said.
The Atlantic route, with departure points in Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, and Morocco, remains the world’s deadliest, according to the migrant aid group Walking Borders. In its annual report released this week, the organization recorded 9,757 migrant deaths at sea in 2024 while attempting to reach the Canary Islands. A total of 10,457 fatalities were documented across all migration routes to Spain this year—nearly 30 people per day.
The Mauritania departure point, heavily used by migrants from the Sahel, accounted for the highest number of deaths, totaling 6,829. Walking Borders criticized governmental policies for the alarming death toll, accusing authorities of prioritizing immigration control over the right to life. The group cited inadequate rescue operations and the criminalization of migrants as key factors contributing to the crisis.