The UN refugee agency reports that nearly 150 migrants died or went missing off Mauritania last week while attempting to reach Europe, marking one of the deadliest incidents on this route.

Mauritania’s coastal route remains a major passage for sub-Saharan Africans aiming for Europe, especially the Canary Islands, which the U.N. says is among the world’s deadliest due to long distances and unseaworthy, overcrowded boats.

In total, 144 people were confirmed dead or missing in two incidents between mid-July and July 18, with 387 rescued.

The decline in arrivals follows record numbers in 2024, with EU asylum policy and migration agreements with neighboring countries shaping migration flows toward the Canary Islands.

There are discrepancies between Mauritania’s authorities and other sources in the incident tallies, reflecting varying numbers reported for the two events.

Officials have not immediately clarified the differences, and there are ongoing discrepancies in reported totals from different sources.

Two child survivors from the large vessel are receiving hospital care after losing all their family members.

Sea crossings to Europe fell sharply in 2026, but the risk remains high, with just over 40,000 migrants and refugees reaching Europe by sea so far this year, down from 65,407 in the same period last year.

Mauritania reported 17 migrant disembarkations in 2026 at Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with about 2,147 people rescued this year.

UNHCR says deaths or disappearances on these routes remain at alarming levels, underscoring ongoing dangers of sea migration despite lower overall arrivals.

UNHCR noted three incidents in one week, highlighting dangerous sea conditions due to unseaworthy and overcrowded boats and limited rapid rescue chances.

Mauritania’s coast guard reported a missing-12 near Nouakchott after a boat from The Gambia ran out of fuel and drifted for 25 days; separately, 179 people were rescued from a boat that had sailed from Senegal the previous Saturday, with unclear reconciliation between figures.