Baby among at least 80 found dead on boat off Canary Islands after 26 days at sea

At least 80 people, including a baby, have been found dead on a boat that had been adrift for 26 days off Spain’s Canary Islands.

Spain’s news agency EFE Noticias reported that the victims were discovered in a small vessel off the islands, which lie off the coast of northwest Africa.

The Civil Guard told Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras that the boat had likely travelled from Gambia, according to inscriptions on the vessel’s hull.

It comes one day after the Moroccan navy intercepted 201 migrants attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands after departing from Western Sahara. The boat was intercepted 185 kilometres (115 miles) southwest of Dakhla, according to the Moroccan general staff, cited by Spanish news agency EFE.

More to follow…