Irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa attempt the dangerous Atlantic route toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
Authorities in the Northwest African country of Mauritania say that more than 500 irregular migrants have been rescued in the country’s waters over the past 10 days, amid rising migration activity along the Atlantic route toward Europe.
In the latest operation, Mauritania’s Coast Guard rescued 77 migrants after intercepting their boat in the country’s territorial waters, according to a statement by the Fisheries and Maritime Economy Ministry on Thursday.
The ministry said the vessel had departed from Conakry, the capital of neighbouring Guinea, and was carrying 59 men, 11 women, and seven minors, all of them Guinean nationals.
Authorities said the boat left the Guinean coast late on May 29 before being detected by Mauritanian patrols at sea.
Multi-rescue missions
The latest operation raised the number of migrants rescued in Mauritanian waters during the past 10 days to 503, following a series of separate rescue missions carried out by the coast guard.
Earlier this week, Mauritanian authorities rescued 124 migrants near the coastal town of Nouamghar, while 192 others were rescued off Nouakchott after their boat broke down during a journey from Gambia.
Another 110 migrants from several African countries were rescued earlier this month after their vessel was stranded in rough weather conditions off the Mauritanian coast.
Irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa attempt the dangerous Atlantic route toward Spain’s Canary Islands as they seek to reach Europe.
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