A boat that ran aground off the coast of the northern Senegalese town of Lompoul has resulted in the recovery of around twenty bodies, officials said on Saturday. The ship’s wreckage was located offshore, but the exact circumstances of the grounding remain unknown.
The Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reported that official security sources confirmed the incident and that bodies had been recovered along the coast near Tebene, in the Potou Saradao area of Kebemer department. Gendarmes and firefighters were the first to arrive at the shoreline and retrieve the remains, transporting them for identification.
Police and emergency responders were mobilized following a call for assistance on Saturday. The rescue operation took place along Lompoul Beach, a stretch of shoreline that hosts both local fishing boats and tourist vessels. The recovered bodies were lifted from the beach using heavy‑vehicle equipment provided by the gendarmes’ unit.
This incident has brought attention to the safety of small vessels operating in the region. While the exact number of people on board has not yet been released, authorities have indicated that the disaster could involve a range of passengers, from local fishermen to tourists.
The government has set up a temporary identification site near the beach to handle the bodies and provide support for families. For now, the cause of the grounding remains under investigation, and further details are expected once the inquiry is complete.
