Gambia: More than 80 dead on crossing to the Canary Islands

A crossing from Gambia to the Canary Islands turned into tragedy. A pirogue that set sail on August 7 with 128 people on board was found after drifting in the Atlantic for 26 days. More than 80 passengers are believed to have perished, including a baby.

The vessel was spotted on Wednesday about 120 kilometers south of Gran Canaria by a Spanish maritime rescue aircraft. When rescuers reached it during the night, only 45 passengers were still alive. Five bodies were also recovered on board.

According to testimonies gathered from survivors, several people died during the long weeks spent at sea. Some bodies were reportedly thrown overboard. The heavy swell prevented rescuers from recovering the five bodies found in the pirogue.

The survivors were in a very weak state. Three of them were evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in Gran Canaria. The others were taken to the port of Arguineguín for treatment.

This tragedy is yet another reminder of the dangers of the Atlantic route linking West Africa to the Canary Islands, where boats can remain at sea for several weeks before reaching the Spanish coast.

Yolande Bazié