At least 69 people, including 25 Malian nationals, died when a boat full of African migrants headed from West Africa to Spain capsized off Morocco’s coast on December 19, international media reported.
The makeshift vessel was carrying around 80 passengers, but only 11 survived, Mali’s Ministry of Malians Abroad confirmed on Thursday.
A crisis unit has been set up in Mali to monitor the situation and provide further updates, the ministry added.
The tragedy highlights the dangers of the Atlantic migration route, which stretches from West Africa’s coasts past Mauritania and Morocco to the Canary Islands.
The route, favored by African migrants attempting to reach Spain, has become one of the world’s deadliest.
Activist group Walking Borders reported that nearly 5,000 migrants had died at sea in the first five months of 2024 alone while attempting to reach the Spanish archipelago, an unprecedented toll.