Ocean currents and winds blamed for African boat’s tragic journey

Santo Domingo.- After the discovery of a boat on the coast of Río San Juan in the María Trinidad Sánchez province, containing the remains of approximately 14 individuals with documents from African countries, experts in meteorology and geology have provided insights into how ocean currents and winds could have played a role in this tragic journey.

Gloria Ceballos, director of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), and geologist Osiris de León both suggest that the Atlantic Ocean’s east-to-west currents might have carried the boat from the African coast to the Caribbean.

“Just as Sahara dust reaches our region driven by trade winds, it is possible that this vessel, originating from Senegal or Mauritania, was pushed to our shores,” explained De León. He noted that the distance between Dakar, Senegal, and the Dominican Republic is around 5,600 kilometers.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this grim discovery, which has shocked the local community and raises unsettling questions about the fate of those found on board.