At least 21 killed after migrant boat sinks off Senegal

At least 21 people died after a migrant boat sank near Kebemer off north-western Senegal, according to Senegalese authorities. The sinking highlights the continuing risks of the Atlantic route to Spain’s Canary Islands, where thousands have died in recent years.

One person was rescued and 21 bodies recovered, but the death toll was provisional as search operations continued. The boat sank about 180 kilometres north of Dakar; Senegal said it had intercepted 142 migrants on another boat the previous day. On El Hierro in the Canary Islands, officials declared an emergency after more than 3,300 people arrived on around 30 boats since the start of the month, amid pressure on local services.