A pregnant woman is among dozens of migrants dead after their boat sank off Mauritanian coast while trying to reach Europe. 

The boat is reported to have left Betanti, Senegal with 180 migrants among whom included other African nationals.

Speaking to Gambiana, Ebrima Drammeh, a migrant rights activist said 77 of the migrants are still missing while adding that 49 Gambians are confirmed dead in the tragic incident. 

“The migrant boat sank off the Mauritania coast this afternoon (23 July). There were 180 people on the boat, but 9 Gambians died including a pregnant woman but her four children survived and her husband is still missing,” he said.

Meanwhile, he added that the other missing migrants included Senegalese and Ivorian nationals totaling 77 people. 

According to him, The Gambian Embassy in 
Mauritania is helping the survivors while efforts are being made to identify the other dead and missing Gambian migrants. 

This tragedy came barely a week after the Gambian navy intercepted two migrant boats carrying dozens of young people bound for Europe. 

Gambians particularly young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have resorted to desperate measures including the dangerous high seas to seek a better life in Europe. The country is gripped by an economic crisis exacerbated by surging unemployment rate and high cost of living.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba