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, which was traveling from West Africa to Europe in search of a better life, became stranded at sea for over 20 days.

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

Overloaded wooden boat from The Gambia

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

It was revealed that the vessel was an overcrowded, small wooden boat, lacking essential safety equipment and completely unsuitable for open-sea navigation. Packed aboard were approximately 180 migrants and refugees, including families with children, all of whom were traveling to Europe in hopes of securing stable jobs and food.

Lost at sea: 25 days adrift in the Atlantic

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

When they were finally discovered by the Mauritanian coast guard 25 days after departure, only 38 of the approximately 180 passengers were still alive. The remaining 143 individuals had either perished during the drift or fallen into the sea and gone missing. (Including one death from another rescue vessel, the total count of dead or missing is 144.)

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

The Atlantic route: 'One of the world's most dangerous paths'

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 "deadliest migration paths in the world" due to several factors: the long distance across the vast Atlantic, the reliance on wooden boats unsuited for long-haul voyages, and the difficulty of securing a "golden time" for rescue operations given the rough weather and vast expanse of the ocean.

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

Reporter Lim Yo-hee