More than 60 people are feared dead after a boat carrying migrants was found off the coast of Cape Verde in West Africa.
The vessel, a wooden pirogue-style boat, had been drifting at sea for over a month before being spotted by a Spanish fishing boat nearly 320 km (200 miles) off the island of Sal.
Cape Verde officials have expressed the need for global action on migration to prevent further tragedies. Initial reports suggested that the boat had sunk, but it was later clarified that it had been found adrift.
Thirty-eight survivors, including children, were rescued and brought ashore on the island of Sal. Some arrived on stretchers, highlighting the perilous conditions they endured.
The migrants on the boat are believed to have mainly been from Senegal. The boat had set sail from the Senegalese fishing village of Fass Boye on July 10, carrying 101 people, according to Senegal's foreign ministry.
Among the survivors are four children aged between 12 and 16, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Moda Samb, an elected official from the village, disclosed that most of those on the boat had grown up in the community.
Local families anxiously awaited news about their missing relatives, emphasizing the human impact of this tragedy.
The Senegalese foreign ministry is working with Cape Verde authorities to coordinate the repatriation of survivors.
The boat's passengers reportedly hailed from other countries as well, including Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau.
This distressing incident has prompted calls for international cooperation to address migration challenges, with hopes to prevent further loss of life in similar circumstances.