Asger Risom
Authorities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines investigate the grim discovery of decomposed remains on a grounded vessel.
The Caribbean Sea has once again become the backdrop to a haunting maritime mystery. In a scene reminiscent of past tragedies, local police have recovered 11 bodies from a boat that washed ashore on the island of Canouan — with early evidence pointing toward a long and fatal journey from West Africa.
The discovery raises fresh concerns about the increasingly perilous routes used by migrants and refugees attempting transatlantic crossings.
Suspected Origins in Mali
The boat was reported adrift around 10:45 a.m. on Monday in Little Bay, on the southern tip of the archipelago belonging to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Once grounded, officers found 11 decomposing bodies aboard the 45-foot vessel.
“Several passports that appear to be from the Republic of Mali were recovered at the scene.”
said Police Commissioner Junior Simmons in a recorded statement.
He noted that the remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and in some cases, not entirely intact. The bodies have since been brought to shore pending forensic analysis.
Authorities have not yet confirmed identities, but Mali — a landlocked West African country over 6,000 kilometers away — has been linked to similar cases in recent months.
Dangerous Waters, Deadly Routes
In January, officials in St. Kitts and Nevis discovered 19 bodies aboard another drifting vessel, also believed to have originated in Mali. That case too involved passengers presumed lost at sea for weeks — possibly longer.
As reported by Digi24, the Atlantic route west of Africa is among the world’s most dangerous, known for strong currents and unpredictable winds that can easily push small boats far off course.
Police say investigations into this latest incident are ongoing, with regional authorities now coordinating to trace the vessel’s origin — and understand the human story behind its tragic final voyage.