At Least 21 Migrants Dead After Boat Sinks off Senegal

At least 21 migrants have died after their boat sank in the Atlantic off the coast of Senegal, the country's interior ministry said.

The ministry said 21 bodies were recovered from the water and one person was rescued alive. A search is under way for people still missing in the water, and support is being given to the families of the victims.

The boat went down between Dakar and the northern city of Saint-Louis, in the Kebemer and Lompoul area, on Saturday 7 November 2026. Conflicting tolls circulated late on Saturday as news of the sinking spread, but officials later confirmed that 21 bodies had been found.

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Most of the victims were from Leona and Thies. The identities of all those on board have not yet been fully confirmed.

Separately on Saturday, Senegalese officials said they arrested 142 migrants, including women and children, who were travelling in a small boat aiming for Spain. Officials have not said whether the two incidents are linked.

The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands has become one of the main paths used by people leaving West Africa for Europe. Senegal is one of the main departure points, and the crossing usually takes several days at sea.

In recent years, thousands of people from West Africa have died trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands by the dangerous Atlantic route. The journey is long and risky, and boats can run into trouble far from shore.

The search for the missing will continue, and officials are expected to give more details as the operation goes on. The authorities are working to identify those who died while families of the victims receive support.