At least 140 migrants drowned off the coast of Senegal when their boat caught fire mid-journey and capsized, the deadliest shipwreck of 2020.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced the incident in a press release on Thursday, noting that the Europe-bound ship was ferrying around 200 migrants.

The agency reported that Senegalese and Spanish navies, assisted by fishermen who were nearby, rescued 59 people and retrieved the remains of 20 others. 

IOM noted in Thursday's press release that the number of departures from West Africa to the Canary Islands has significantly increased in recent weeks.

It estimates there have been roughly 11,000 arrivals to the Canary Islands this year compared to 2,557 arrivals during the same period last year.

IOM Senegal Chief of Mission, Bakary Doumbia, called for greater efforts in the fight against human trafficking rings that continue to risk lives of desperate migrants by organizing dangerous illegal sea crossings.

"We call for unity between governments, partners and the international community to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks that take advantage of desperate youth," he said.

"It is also important that we advocate for enhanced legal channels to undermine the traffickers' business model and prevent loss of life."