Four Pakistani migrants suffocate to death on boat to Spain

Migrants die of suffocation in boat’s cargo hold while attempting illegal journey from Mauritania to Spain.

At least four young Pakistani men suffocated to death while attempting to migrate to Spain via a boat journey from Mauritania.

One of the victims was identified as Abu Huraira, a young man from Jinnah Colony, Wazirabad, who had left home two months ago without informing his family of his plans to reach Europe.

Three other Pakistanis were also on board with him, though their identities have not yet been confirmed.

The victims had been concealed in the boat's cargo compartment during the journey when they reportedly suffocated due to a lack of ventilation.

Abu Huraira's family confirmed the heartbreaking news, stating they were informed by the agent who had arranged the voyage.

According to the family, the agent said the four were hidden among the cargo to evade detection, which led to their tragic deaths.

Abu Huraira, who was married just two years ago, was recognised by his family through images shared on Facebook showing the suffocation victims.

His funeral prayers in absentia have already been offered at a local park in Wazirabad.

The identities of the other three deceased men remain unknown, and efforts to gather further details about their families continue.

On August 26, at least 13 people died when a migrant boat sank off Yemen, also leaving 14 missing, a UN agency said Sunday, in the latest disaster on the perilous migration route.

"Thirteen people have tragically lost their lives and 14 others remain missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Yemen's Taez governorate on Tuesday," the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

The vessel had departed from Djibouti carrying 25 Ethiopian migrants and two Yemeni nationals, according to the UN agency.

Eleven men and two women were among those confirmed dead, as search operations continue to locate the missing, including the Yemeni captain and his assistant, the IOM said. It noted that the cause of the shipwreck remains unclear.