At least 49 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 100 remain missing following the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Mauritania, more than 48 hours after the incident, authorities reported Friday.

A senior Mauritanian Coast Guard official told AFP that one patrol had managed to rescue 17 people. So far, 49 bodies have been recovered and buried, while search operations continue for those still missing.

According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, 10,457 migrants died attempting to reach Spain by sea in 2024, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by those undertaking perilous migration routes.