BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Brazilian police investigating the grim discovery of a boat full of corpses say the dead were likely African migrants from Mali and Mauritania.
Fishermen off Brazil’s northern coastal state of Pará found the boat adrift Saturday in the Atlantic ocean. Brazil’s Federal police said in a statement late Monday it had recovered nine dead in total.
“Documents and objects found near the bodies indicate that the victims were migrants from the African continent, from the region of Mauritania and Mali,” the statement read. Police added that other nationalities could be among the deceased.
The roughly 12-meter (39-foot) -long white and blue canoe-shaped boat found in Brazil shares the same characteristics of Mauritanian fishing pirogues frequently used by West African migrants and refugees fleeing to Spain’s Canary Islands, suggesting Brazil was probably not their destination.
Weedkiller manufacturer seeks lawmakers' help to squelch claims it failed to warn about cancer
Nelly Furtado wears NO underwear in racy lace
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Asian CL semifinal postponed in United Arab Emirates after flooding caused by heavy rain
Beijing half marathon results under investigation after runners appear to hand win to Chinese star
China to carry out third residents' time use survey
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling
China's traffic authorities issue passenger vehicle safety reminder