Nouakchott, November 02 (QNA) — Mauritanian authorities announced the rescue of 134 people from an irregular migration boat headed toward the Canary Islands, near the port of Nouadhibou in the north of the country.

In a statement, the Mauritanian military reported that it had carried out a rescue operation for a boat carrying 118 men, 14 women, and two children, all of various—though unspecified—nationalities.

The military emphasized that this operation is part of ongoing efforts by the naval forces to rescue individuals at sea, combat illegal migration and human-smuggling networks, and enhance security and safety within the maritime domain.

In recent months, relevant authorities have rescued hundreds of people—mostly from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, and Mali—off the coast of Mauritania.

In recent years, thousands of people have perished or gone missing while attempting to reach Europe. For years, thousands of Africans—the majority of them young—have undertaken the perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean in often overcrowded and dilapidated boats, aiming to reach Europe via the Spanish Canary Islands. (QNA)