Seven Dead, Dozens Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes off Gambian Coast

At least seven people have died and dozens more are feared missing after a migrant boat carrying over 200 passengers capsized off the coast of The Gambia, local authorities said.

The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday near a village in the North Bank region, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence. Authorities confirmed that seven bodies were recovered, while at least 96 people were rescued, many of them suffering serious injuries.

The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation shortly after receiving a distress call. Several naval vessels were deployed, assisted by a fishing boat, officials said. The stricken vessel was later found grounded on a sandbank.

The Defence Ministry said several of the victims were foreign nationals, and efforts are under way to verify their identities. Search operations are continuing amid fears that the death toll could rise.

The Gambia has increasingly become a departure point for migrants and asylum seekers attempting the dangerous sea journey to Canary Islands, a key gateway to continental Europe from West Africa.

According to the European Union, more than 46,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024. Rights group Caminando Fronteras estimates that over 10,000 people died attempting the Atlantic crossing last year, a 58% increase from 2023.

However, the EU border agency Frontex reported that irregular migration along the West African route fell by 60% during the first 11 months of 2025, attributing the decline to stronger prevention efforts by countries of departure.

Authorities said investigations into the cause of the capsizing are ongoing.