In a dramatic rescue at sea, a Senegalese fisherman saved 112 migrants whose vessel had become disabled and was adrift for three days, after departing from Gambia.
The pirogue, which had left the Gambian coast bound for the Canary Islands, was spotted by fisherman Abdou Karim Sall approximately 65 kilometers off the coast of Senegal, according to local sources.
Sall promptly alerted the maritime authorities and, demonstrating immense bravery, worked with his crew to secure the distressed boat and provide the exhausted passengers with food and water until help arrived. The Senegalese navy subsequently intercepted the vessels and safely towed the migrant boat to the port of Saint-Louis.
The migrants, who originated from various West African countries including Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, received medical attention upon arrival. This incident highlights the extreme dangers of the Atlantic migration route to the Canaries, which has become increasingly deadly, and underscores the critical role local fishermen play in emergency rescues.