A migrant boat that left Gambia for Europe has been rescued off the coast of Senegal after living at the mercy of the waves following the breakdown of their engine.

The boat is known to have left the Gambian village of Niumi Touba Kolong a week ago. They are rescued by Senegalese marines following the boat crew call for help.

“They ran for four days and their engine broke down because they were having two engines 40 HP and 60 HP but the 60 HP has a problem and they can’t travel with the 40 HP engine that’s the reason they try to return back,” Ebrima Drammeh told Gambiana. 

“They have spent seven days in the sea before they were rescued and brought to Saint Louis in Senegal, but before the police came to their aid their captain’s removed the two engines and ran with them and left the migrants themselves in the sea,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba