The Mauritanian authorities have said that 10 children were rescued from the sea after a boat carrying Gambian and Senegalese migrants capsized on Wednesday off the coastal town of Nouadibhou.

They said the children were recovering from shock and were being looked after by UN and Mauritanian authorities. 10 survivors, according to the Mauritanian officials, were receiving urgent medical care in hospital.

“All were being cared for in accordance with human solidarity, fraternity and African hospitality,” Interior Minister Mohamed Salem ould Merzoug told the Associated Press, adding that “Mauritania will investigate those responsible for this drama including possible trafficking networks.”

A doctor from the U.N. migration agency was arriving in Nouakchott Thursday to support local medical efforts and the agency is providing first aid kits, blankets and other supplies, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the Associated Press.

The Mauritanian Coast Guard is continuing the search and rescue efforts for the missing migrants.

Fitfty-eight Gambians, mostly young people, were confirmed dead by the UN and Gambian authorities.

The Gambia government released a statement yesterday expressing condolences to the victims’ families and said they were working with the UN and Mauritania authorities to investigate the tragic accident.

“The Gambia government is working with the United Nations International Organization for Migration and will dispatch a delegation to Mauritania at the earliest possible time to investigate and gather more information on the accident,” President Barrow said in a statement.

This tragedy is the single biggest loss of Gambian lives since the illegal migration route to Europe started in 2012.

The boat carrying 150 people left Barra, a coastal town in the North Bank Region, for Canary Island in Spain on November 27.