At least 45 Gambians who survived a migrant boat that sank off the Mauritanian Coast on Wednesday are due to be returned home.

The boat disaster left dozens of African migrants dead including a pregnant Gambian woman. More than hundred people were on the wooden boat en route to Spain when it sank. 

“The 45 survivors are no more under the detention of Mauritania authorities, the Gambia embassy in Nouakchott has moved all of them to the IOM facility, the IOM will arrange a flight for them back to Gambia,”Ebrima Drammeh, Italy-based migrant activist, told Gambiana.

However, rescuers have so far recovered more than 25 bodies. 

“From yesterday up to now more than 28 dead bodies have been recovered from the sea but we don’t know their identities yet,” Mr Drammeh added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba