Gambiaj.com – (NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania) – Mauritanian authorities have announced the rescue of 227 migrants whose boat had been drifting for more than ten days in the Atlantic Ocean before being intercepted off the coast of Nouadhibou, some 470 kilometers north of Nouakchott. One Senegalese migrant died shortly after being evacuated to a hospital.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Mauritanian coast guard said the rescued passengers included 135 Gambians, 73 Senegalese, 17 from Guinea Conakry, and two from Guinea-Bissau.

All had departed from The Gambia in a traditional boat in early November, attempting to reach the Canary Islands, a route increasingly marked by deadly risks.

The boat was spotted on Wednesday, prompting a large-scale rescue mission. According to the coast guard, the migrants endured extreme conditions during the lengthy crossing, with many suffering from acute dehydration, hunger, and severe exhaustion.

Medical and security teams were deployed immediately after the vessel was intercepted. While most survivors were stabilised on site, fifteen migrants in critical condition were transferred to Nouadhibou Regional Hospital for further treatment. One of them, a Senegalese national, died shortly after arrival.

Women and children were among those rescued, officials confirmed. Upon disembarkation at the Nouadhibou port, the migrants received water, food, emergency medical care, and other essential assistance.

Authorities also reported that several migrants were placed in police custody following allegations of “serious incidents and acts of violence” during the journey. Some survivors told investigators that certain individuals on board had committed violent acts against fellow passengers while at sea.

The rescue comes amid a surge in departures from West African coasts toward the Canary Islands, a route that has become one of the deadliest migration corridors in the world.