Deadly Migrant Boat Disasters Near Atlantic Islands

Authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are investigating the discovery of a boat with the decomposed remains of 11 people, likely Malian migrants, which washed ashore on Canouan island. Several Malian passports were found, though the victims' identities and intended destination are unconfirmed; experts suspect the boat was headed for the Canary Islands. This incident is linked to ongoing violence and humanitarian crises in Mali, which are driving risky migration attempts. Separately, at least seven people, including women and children, died when an overcrowded migrant boat capsized near El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands as it was being escorted to port, with the accident triggered by passengers rushing to one side. Over 100 people were rescued from the sea. These incidents underscore the severe dangers facing West African migrants attempting Atlantic crossings and the continued frequency of deadly tragedies on these routes.