The death toll from a migrant boat disaster off the coast of Senegal has risen to 39, authorities reported on Monday, as emergency teams continued searching for people believed to be missing.
The vessel overturned near Kébémer, north of Dakar, while carrying passengers attempting to reach Europe through the Atlantic migration route.
Senegal's interior ministry had initially reported 21 deaths on Sunday. The revised figure was confirmed after additional bodies were recovered, according to the Senegalese Press Agency and emergency services.
Only one passenger has been reported rescued alive. Authorities have not established how many people were aboard the vessel, leaving the number still missing uncertain.
The boat had departed from Saint-Louis in northern Senegal and was reportedly heading towards Spain.
Search and recovery operations continued on Monday, with emergency personnel working along the affected coastline. Four bodies recovered that morning were buried following a collective funeral prayer organised by firefighters, according to the Senegalese Press Agency.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed condolences to the families of those who died and pledged stronger action against networks organising dangerous sea crossings.
The tragedy has also prompted renewed criticism from human rights campaigners, who are demanding greater scrutiny of Senegal's approach to irregular migration.
Action for Human Rights and Friendship, a Senegalese civil society organisation, called for a parliamentary investigation into migration governance, arguing that existing measures have failed to prevent repeated deaths at sea.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands remains one of the world's most dangerous migration corridors.
According to the migrant rights organisation Walking Borders, at least 635 people died attempting the crossing during the first five months of 2026.
Economic hardship, unemployment and limited opportunities continue to drive migration from parts of West Africa, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of travelling in overcrowded wooden boats.
The latest disaster has renewed questions about rescue capacity, efforts to dismantle smuggling networks and the availability of safer migration pathways.
Authorities have not announced a final casualty figure, and further updates are expected as recovery operations continue.
