144 migrants died or went missing in two boat incidents off Mauritania between July 14 and 18, the U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday.
A boat carrying 160 people from Gambia toward the Canary Islands ran out of fuel and drifted for 25 days; Mauritania's coast guard said 122 people went missing near Nouakchott.
In a separate incident, the coast guard rescued 179 people from a boat that had departed Senegal, while the U.N. said 387 people were rescued across the incidents.
Mauritania's waters have become a key launch point for sub-Saharan migrants heading to Europe, with the Canary Islands route among the world's deadliest because of long distances and overcrowded, unseaworthy boats.
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Over 140 Dead or Missing: The July 2026 Mauritania Migrant Boat Disaster and the Ongoing Atlantic Migration Crisis
Overview
In July 2026, a tragic migrant boat disaster off Mauritania highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by those attempting to reach Europe via the Atlantic route. Despite recent rescue operations that saved hundreds, many lives were lost, underscoring the persistent humanitarian crisis in the region. The UNHCR expressed deep sorrow over these deaths and continues to assist with rescues, as thousands have already been saved this year. This disaster reveals the severe human cost of irregular migration and the urgent need for stronger support, safer routes, and solutions to address the root causes driving people to risk such perilous journeys.