About 140 migrants drown in 2020’s deadliest shipwreck

At least 140 migrants have drowned after a boat carrying about 200 Europe-bound migrants sank off the coast of Senegal, according to the UN.

The boat, which left the town of Mbour for Spain’s Canary Islands, caught fire and capsized on 24 October.

About 60 people were rescued from the accident, which the UN described as the deadliest shipwreck of 2020.

Thousands of African migrants continue to try their luck to reach Europe via irregular routes. More than 1,000 African migrants landed in Spain’s Canary Islands over a 48-hour period, making it the largest arrivals since 2006.

TMP_30/10/2020

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Giovanni Cancemi

Image Caption: Migrants ashore seeking refugee