A tragic boat disaster has killed 50 Pakistanis after a migrant vessel capsized while trying to illegally cross the Atlantic Ocean. The boat, carrying 86 migrants, had left Mauritania earlier this month with its destination set for Spain’s Canary Islands. The incident shows the dangerous and often deadly journey that migrants take in hopes of reaching Europe.

The Fateful Journey of Boat

The boat carried 66 Pakistanis among the passengers. The boat was lost in the ocean for 13 days before capsizing near the Moroccan port of Dakhla. According to migrant rights group Walking Borders, 36 migrants were rescued, while 44 Pakistanis drowned in the sea. Survivors of the incident were rescued and are being housed in a camp near Dakhla, Morocco. The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan has confirmed the incident. It stated that the country’s embassy in Rabat is in touch with local authorities and extending support to the survivors.

Torture Allegations by Local Authorities

The victims’ families have raised some very disturbing allegations following the tragedy. As reported by Dawn, the survivors of the capsized boat alleged they were subjected to physical torture by local officials while they were traveling. Survivors were questioned about the migration journey over their telephonic conversations with families. They complained of being allegedly “hit by a hammer” and physically tortured. The information about how migrants are treated when attempting to reach Europe is very disturbing.

PM to Take Action Against Human Traffickers

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the tragedy and vowed to take strict action against those responsible for human trafficking. He stated that authorities would not tolerate any negligence and would take strong steps to dismantle the human trafficking network behind the deadly boat journey.

“This incident depicts the serious threat posed by human trafficking. We will not allow such tragedies to continue,” Sharif said in a statement. Families of the victims, most of whom belong to the Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin districts in Punjab, expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the loss of their loved ones.

Tragedy Strikes a Vulnerable Group

Reports say that most of the casualties were young Punjabis, who had left Pakistan four months ago to start anew in Europe. Tragically, the boat capsized after a grueling 13-day journey, and only 19 of the 66 Pakistanis survived the ordeal. Meanwhile, authorities in Morocco took the bodies of eight Pakistani victims to the hospital for identification.

Pakistan’s government is actively working to repatriate the deceased’s bodies and assist the survivors, who are still recovering in Morocco. The tragic event reminded everyone of the dangerous journeys migrants undertake in pursuit of a better future, usually at the mercy of human traffickers.