26 dead in boat sinking off western Senegal

The Senegalese navy said they recovered 17 more bodies Tuesday from a boat carrying migrants that sank off the coast, bringing the death toll to 26, reported Xinhua.

The tragedy occurred off the coastal town of Mbour in western Senegal.

The navy was informed of the tragedy on Sept. 8 and the same day it launched a search operation involving three naval units and a maritime patrol aircraft, said the navy in a statement issued Tuesday.

Nine bodies were recovered earlier, which was announced Monday.

"The search is continuing," the navy added.

Senegal is one of the main departure points for clandestine migrants who, for years, have been taking the Atlantic route in an attempt to reach Europe, mainly to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa, aboard overloaded and often dilapidated boats.