At least 50 migrants, including 44 Pakistanis, lost their lives when a boat carrying illegal migrants from Mauritania to Spain met with a tragic accident.

The vessel, which departed Mauritania on January 2, was carrying 86 migrants, 66 of whom were Pakistani.

Only 36 people were rescued, while the remaining freezing at sea. Among the deceased were 12 young individuals from Gujrat, Pakistan, who had embarked on their journey to Europe four months earlier.

Walking Borders, a migrant rights group, reported that the boat was on route from West Africa to Spain.

An NGO, stated that the boat had been missing for six days before the tragedy was reported to authorities in relevant countries.

Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service was alerted on January 12 but claimed to have no prior information about the missing vessel.