At Least Seven Dead and Dozens Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Gambia

Tragedy on a Popular Migration Route

At least seven individuals lost their lives when a boat carrying over 200 migrants capsized off the coast of Gambia, with dozens more reported missing, according to local authorities. The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday, near a village in the North Bank region of Gambia, as stated by the Ministry of Defense.

Authorities confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered, and at least 96 people were rescued, many of whom sustained severe injuries. Following an emergency call, the Gambian navy launched a search and rescue operation involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that provided assistance, as per the same statement.

The sunken vessel was later found "buried in a sandbank," the Ministry of Defense reported. Several of the victims have been identified as non-Gambian nationals, and authorities are currently in the process of verifying their identities. Gambia has become a departure point for migrants and asylum seekers aiming to reach Spain's Canary Islands, a route to continental Europe.

According to the European Union, over 46,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024. More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Atlantic, marking a 58% increase from 2023, as reported by the human rights group Caminando Fronteras. However, irregular migration to the EU via the West African route has decreased by 60% in the first 11 months of 2025, according to border agency Frontex, which credited this reduction to stronger prevention efforts from departing countries.

Nonetheless, migrants and asylum seekers continue to attempt perilous journeys to Europe on fragile and often overcrowded boats. In May, seven women and girls perished when a small boat carrying over 100 people capsized while approaching the Canary Islands.