A migrant boat that traveled from West Africa to the Canary Islands. [AP=Euronews] 

A total of 144 people have died or gone missing after a migrant boat heading from West Africa to Europe was stranded at sea for over 20 days.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated on the 21st (local time) that while Mauritanian authorities recently conducted a rescue operation in waters near Nouadhibou, the prolonged period at sea resulted in a devastating loss of life.

The Ill-Fated Vessel: An Overloaded Wooden Boat from Gambia

The boat at the center of this tragedy departed from Bufuloto, Gambia, in West Africa. Its intended destination was the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory approximately 1,677 km away.

The vessel was identified as a small, overcrowded wooden boat that lacked basic safety equipment and was entirely unsuitable for open-sea navigation. Packed with around 180 migrants and refugees, including children, the passengers were seeking to reach Europe in hopes of finding stable employment and a better life.

Lost Control and '25 Days Adrift in the Atlantic'

The disaster began when the boat lost control and started drifting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In the vast, unpredictable sea, the passengers were left without timely rescue, exposed to starvation, dehydration, extreme cold, and relentless waves.

By the time they were discovered by Mauritanian rescuers 25 days after their departure, only 38 of the roughly 180 passengers were still alive. The remaining 143 people had perished or fallen overboard during the ordeal. (Including one death from another rescue vessel, the total death toll is 144.)

Among the 38 survivors are two young children who lost their entire families during the voyage, adding to the tragedy. The children are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital.

The Atlantic Route: 'The World’s Most Dangerous Journey'

UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh described the incident as "a tragic example of the severe human cost associated with dangerous maritime routes."

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Spanish Canary Islands is considered one of the "world's deadliest migration routes" due to the immense distance across the open Atlantic, the use of wooden boats ill-suited for long voyages, and the difficulty of securing timely rescue in such vast, turbulent waters.

The UNHCR has urged the international community to strengthen cooperation and expand safe, regular migration pathways to prevent further loss of life.

Reporter Im Yo-hee