MORE than a dozen migrants died and at least 150 others are missing after their boat capsized off Mauritania on their way to Europe, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said today.

The IOM said that the tragedy triggered a frantic search and rescue operation.

There were reportedly 300 migrants on the boat that capsized on Monday near the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, and 120 have been rescued by the Mauritanian Coast Guard, the IOM said in a statement late on Wednesday.

“Tragically, 15 people were confirmed dead upon arrival,” the IMO said, saying that search efforts were still taking place.

A surge of migrants has left west Africa in recent years through Senegal, from where they have to navigate north past Mauritania to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.

In the latest case, the migrants were travelling on artisanal fishing boats, known as pirogues, which can be overwhelmed by strong winds and Atlantic currents. 

While thousands have managed to survive the risky journey, many die or disappear along the way, with remains sometimes washing up on the other side of the Atlantic.

Among those so far rescued from Monday’s incident were four unaccompanied and separated children, the IOM said, saying that 10 survivors were referred to hospitals for medical attention.

African migrants trying to reach Europe are often fleeing poverty and instability. Although it is their journey to make, the decision to leave is sometimes not personal but made by their families in the hope of positive outcomes.

Nearly 2,000 migrants have arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands using the Mauritania route this year, which is almost triple the number from the same period in 2023, the IOM said. 

According to experts at least 5,000 migrants are said to have died on the route during the first five months of 2024.