At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and more than 160 are feared dead after a migrant vessel en route to Spain’s Canary Islands capsized off the coast of Senegal earlier this week.

The vessel, carrying around 100 to 200 passengers, sank near the town of Mbour after both engines failed, according to local security sources. 32 survivors were rescued, while the fate of others remains uncertain.

Helena Maleno Garzon, head of the NGO Caminando Fronteras, said on social media: “While we celebrate Christmas, hundreds of families are in mourning.” She estimated the total death toll could reach 169.

Senegalese authorities have opened an investigation into the incident. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed condolences to victims’ families, stating on social media: “We share their sorrow and their pain while the search continues to find any survivors.”

Reports indicate the vessel departed from Diamniadio, near the Saloum Islands, on 22 December. Survivors said the captain attempted to land on the nearest beach using a smaller canoe, but overcrowding in the water led to multiple drownings.

The Canary Islands route is considered one of the world’s most dangerous migration paths. In 2024, an estimated 9,757 migrants died attempting the crossing, according to Caminando Fronteras. Spain’s Interior Ministry reported 17,555 maritime arrivals so far this year, a sharp drop from 43,737 in the same period in 2024.

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