Dozens Missing After Boat Capsizes off the Coast of Gambia

At least 102 people were rescued and seven bodies were recovered after a boat carrying migrants capsized on New Year’s Eve in the North Bank region of northwest Gambia, President Adama Barrow said in a national broadcast.

The accident happened near the village of Jinack. Emergency services, supported by local fishermen and volunteers, searched the area for survivors and victims in the days following the incident.

The Atlantic route along West Africa’s coast is one of the deadliest migration paths in the world. It stretches across Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania and is frequently used by migrants hoping to reach Europe, especially Spain’s Canary Islands.

Many boats attempting this journey never arrive. In August 2025, about 150 people were reported dead or missing after a boat from Gambia capsized off the coast of Mauritania. In July 2024, another similar incident killed more than a dozen people and left around 150 missing.

The cause of the latest accident is still unclear. Gambia’s Ministry of Defense said the boat was found stuck on a sandbank.

President Barrow said the national emergency response plan was activated immediately and that sufficient resources were deployed to help survivors and continue search efforts. Some of the rescued passengers were receiving urgent medical treatment.

Barrow expressed condolences to the families of the victims and promised a full investigation. He described the tragedy as a “painful reminder of the dangerous and life-threatening nature of irregular migration.”

He added that the government would increase efforts to prevent irregular migration and work toward creating safer and more dignified opportunities for young people.