Migrant Ship From Africa To Canary Islands Sinks In Morocco, 69 People Died

UNSPLASH/Mishal Ibrahim ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Reportedly 69 people died after a ship sailing from West Africa to the Canary Islands capsized and sank off the coast of Morocco on December 19.

The ship carried about 80 people on its overturn. Only 11 survivors, Mali's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, December 26, after gathering information to reconstruct the incident.

The Atlantic migration route from West Africa's coast to the Canary Islands in Spain, which is usually used by African migrants trying to reach mainland Spain, saw a spike this year, with 41,425 arrivals in January-November, surpassing last year's record of 39,910 people.

The years of conflict in the Sahel region that includes Mali, unemployment and the impact of climate change on the farmer community are some of the reasons why people are trying to make crossings.

As reported by Reuters, one person was killed among 300 people who arrived by six boats on Friday on the island of El Hierro in Canaries, according to the Red Cross.

The Atlantic route, which includes departure points in Senegal and Gambia, Mauritania and Morocco, is the deadliest in the world, according to the Migrant Assistance group Walking Borders.

In its annual report released this week, the group said 9,757 migrants died at sea in 2024 while trying to reach the Spanish archipelago from the African Atlantic coast. According to the report, 10,457 people died or nearly 30 people per day trying to reach Spain this year from all routes.