At least 34 people were killed after a small boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of northwestern Senegal , according to the Senegalese Press Agency.

Thousands have died in recent years after embarking on boats from the Senegalese coast in order to reach Spain's Canary Islands through the perilous Atlantic route.

Initially, the Senegalese Ministry of the Interior stated that only one person had been rescued from the capsizing and that 21 bodies had been recovered.

The ministry added that the toll was "provisional" and that search operations were still ongoing.

The incident occurred near Kebemer, some 180 kilometers (around 112 miles) north of the capital, Dakar.

On Saturday, the ministry stressed the government's "determination to combat people smuggling networks, notably through strengthened cooperation with neighboring countries."

Senegalese authorities said they intercepted 142 migrants on a similar boat aimed at reaching Spanish territory on Friday.…