At least 30 decomposing bodies were discovered aboard a drifting boat approximately 70 km (38 nautical miles) off Senegal’s capital, Dakar, the military reported on Monday.
The navy was alerted to the vessel’s presence on Sunday evening, and a patrol boat was dispatched to investigate.
“So far, thirty bodies have been counted,” the military’s statement confirmed, noting that further investigations would clarify the death toll and the boat’s origin.
The advanced decomposition of the bodies has complicated the identification process.
The Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, frequently used by migrants, is among the deadliest in the world.
In the first five months of 2024, nearly 5,000 migrants perished at sea, according to Walking Borders, a migration rights group.
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