Four migrants killed in tragic boat capsizing off Morocco’s southern coast

Four migrants killed in tragic boat capsizing off Morocco’s southern coast
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Thursday 5 June 2025 - 13:58

Four people died Wednesday after a rubber boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized off the northern coast of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, in a deadly incident that has reignited concerns over the dangers of irregular migration routes to Spain’s Canary Islands.

According to sources cited by local media outlet Hespress, the vessel was carrying 38 people when it overturned at sea between the cities of Laayoune and Tarfaya. Among the victims were one Moroccan woman and three individuals from sub-Saharan Africa.

Authorities responded immediately upon being alerted to the incident. Emergency teams rescued the remaining passengers and provided them with first aid. The bodies of the deceased were transported to the morgue at Moulay Hassan Ben Mehdi Regional Hospital in Laayoune.

The Royal Gendarmerie, under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office, has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident, the boat’s trajectory, and to identify those responsible for organizing the illegal migration attempt.

This latest tragedy highlights the persistent risks faced by migrants attempting the perilous Atlantic crossing in search of better opportunities in Europe.

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