At least 34 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of northwestern Senegal near Kebemer. The country's interior ministry reported the incident on Sunday, though other reports stated at least 21 people died.
Search teams have been mobilized to continue searching for survivors, but only one person has been rescued so far. An indeterminate number of people are still missing.
The United Nations' International Organization for Migration says the dangerous Atlantic Route is a key pathway for West African migrants traveling to Europe. Additionally, authorities on El Hierro in the Canary Islands have declared an emergency after a marked increase in migrant boat arrivals.