Gambiaj.com – (SAINT-LOUIS, SENEGAL) – At least 114 Gambians, including 60 women and 10 children, have been rescued after a pirogue carrying 171 people attempting to reach Spain from The Gambia ran aground in northern Senegal.
The pirogue reportedly left the Gambian coast on the night of October 15, around 11pm, carrying people of several nationalities who were attempting to migrate irregularly to Spain.
The passengers were rescued on October 20 at Pilote Bar, in the commune of Gandiol, after rough sea conditions and bad weather reportedly forced the vessel to seek shelter along the Pilote Bar river.
According to initial information gathered by the Senegalese authorities, the passengers had each paid between CFA300,000 and CFA600,000 for the journey.
Of the 171 people rescued, 114 were Gambian nationals, including 60 women. The group also included 37 Senegalese nationals, among them two women, and one Guinean national from Conakry.
Twelve children were found among the passengers. Ten were Gambian children, comprising five girls and five boys, while the other two were Senegalese.
The rescue highlights the continued risks faced by Gambians attempting to reach Europe through irregular migration routes, with the latest incident involving a vessel that began its journey from Gambian shores.
Seven Taken To Hospital
Seven people, including six Gambians and one Senegalese, were taken to Saint-Louis Regional Hospital for medical treatment following the incident.
No deaths were reported.
The Senegalese Gendarmerie said personnel from the Saint-Louis Territorial Brigade, supported by the Saint-Louis Surveillance and Intervention Squadron, responded after receiving the alert.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the Northern Naval Base and included rescue, security and identification procedures.
The rescued passengers were taken to a Gendarmerie unit for identification.
Pirogue And Fuel Seized
The authorities seized the pirogue used in the journey as well as 10 containers containing 20 litres of fuel each.
Two individuals handed over to the Gendarmerie by personnel from the Northern Naval Base are being held as part of the investigation.
The suspected smuggler and the captain of the pirogue remain at large.
The Senegalese Gendarmerie has urged communities to remain vigilant as investigations continue into the journey, which began on the Gambian coast and ended after the boat reached Senegalese waters.
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