Migrant boat tragedy: At least 80 dead after 27-day drift in Atlantic

At least 80 migrants are believed to have died after a vessel departed from Gambia and drifted in the Atlantic Ocean for 27 days. The boat, which originally carried approximately 127 people, was rescued by Salvamento Marítimo off the Canary Islands on the morning of September 3.

Rescue teams located 44 to 45 survivors, primarily men from Gambia and Mali, at the port of Arguineguín on Gran Canaria. Survivors were reported to be in a state of extreme exhaustion, suffering from severe dehydration and symptoms related to the ingestion of seawater. The Spanish Red Cross provided immediate assistance to those rescued.

The NGO Caminando Fronteras estimates the death toll at 83, including three women and an infant. While five bodies were found on board at the time of rescue, authorities noted that rough sea conditions initially prevented the immediate recovery of all deceased individuals. The incident highlights the extreme dangers of the Atlantic migration route toward the Canary Islands.