Madar (Dakar) - The death toll from the sinking of a boat carrying would-be irregular migrants off Kebemer, in Senegal's north-western Louga region, has risen to 34 after more bodies were recovered, the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported on Sunday 8 November 2026, citing an official source, according to state broadcaster RTS.
Senegalese news sites Senego and PressAfrik, citing the agency, reported one survivor, while Seneweb and Leral said eleven more bodies were recovered on Sunday morning off Lompoul, in the commune of Leona in the Kebemer department.
The previous toll, on Saturday evening, stood at 21 dead, after about 20 bodies were recovered on the Kebemer coast when the boat ran aground. The first toll, on the evening of Friday 6 November, was four dead.
Louga governor Ndeye Ngenar Mbodj visited the affected sites on Sunday to oversee the identification and preservation of the bodies, APS reported.
In a statement, the Minister of the Interior and Public Security expressed his "deep emotion" and "profound sadness" and offered condolences to the victims' families on behalf of the President of the Republic and the government. The relevant state services have been mobilised to continue the search, rescue any survivors and support the affected families.
The government reaffirmed its determination to fight people-smuggling networks, notably by strengthening cooperation with neighbouring countries, and urged the public to be more vigilant about the dangers of irregular migration, while reiterating its commitment to the social and economic integration of young people, the statement said.
The interior minister is expected at the scene on Monday 9 November to express the state's solidarity with the bereaved families and affected communities.
