Toll rises to 63 in migrant boat capsizing off Mauritania
Posted December 06, 2019 6:00 am
NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) -
The death toll from a migrant boat capsizing off Mauritania has risen to 63 after the coast guard found five more bodies.
It was one of the deadliest disasters this year among young Africans trying to reach Europe.
Search and rescue operations continue off the coast near the northern city of Nouadhibou.
At least 83 survivors swam through rough seas to shore after their boat capsized Wednesday. Some 150 migrants, including children, had been on the boat for about a week. The U.N. migration agency said they were trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands but diverted toward Mauritania as fuel and food ran low.
Most of the migrants on the boat were from Gambia, though six Senegalese survived.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.