144 dead or missing on migrant route to Canary Islands

At least 144 refugees and migrants are dead or missing following a series of maritime disasters off the coast of Mauritania. Three separate rescue operations launched from the Mauritanian port city of Nouadhibou between 14 and 18 July managed to bring 387 people of various nationalities safely ashore. These operations underscore the intense, ongoing traffic on the Atlantic crossing toward Europe's Atlantic islands.

The deadliest event involved an overcrowded and unseaworthy vessel that departed Bufuloto in The Gambia, aiming for Spain’s Canary Islands 905 nautical miles away. After drifting helplessly for nearly 25 days, the boat was finally rescued on Saturday with only 38 survivors, leaving 143 others dead or missing. A further fatality was recorded during the rescue of a second vessel on 14 July.

The human toll among the survivors of the main vessel was devastating. Two children onboard lost their entire families during the prolonged journey. "Among the survivors were two children, who had lost all their family members during the journey and are now recovering in hospital with other survivors," the UN refugee agency said in a statement.

For European policymakers, this tragedy represents a persistent and lethal crisis at the continent’s southern maritime frontier. The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands—a journey of 1,677 kilometres from the African coast—has firmly established itself as one of the world's deadliest migration corridors. The UN attributes the high fatality rate to the immense distances involved, unpredictable weather, unseaworthy boats, and limited opportunities for timely rescue.

This week's deaths are part of a steady flow of human traffic attempting to reach Europe, with 17 rescue and disembarkation operations recorded this year in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott. Those operations have brought 2,147 refugees and migrants safely ashore before they could reach European waters. UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh told reporters in Geneva that the incidents highlight "the continued human cost of these dangerous routes," renewing calls for international cooperation and safe migration pathways.