Seven Dead, Dozens Rescued After Migrant Boat Capsizes off Gambia

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Banjul: At least seven people were killed and 96 others rescued after a migrant boat capsized overnight off the coast of northwest Gambia, the country’s defence ministry said on Thursday. Search and rescue operations are ongoing amid fears that many remain missing.

The ministry said the vessel was allegedly carrying more than 200 migrants attempting the dangerous Atlantic crossing to Spain’s Canary Islands. Ten of those rescued are in critical condition and are receiving urgent medical treatment.

The incident occurred along the Atlantic migration route, frequently used by West African migrants seeking to reach Europe. The route is considered one of the world’s deadliest, with overcrowded boats, rough seas and long distances contributing to frequent tragedies.

For years, poverty, unemployment and political instability across parts of West Africa have driven thousands to attempt the perilous journey, which has claimed countless lives.

According to European Union data, more than 46,000 irregular migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024, the highest number on record. Meanwhile, the migrant rights group Caminando Fronteras reported that over 10,000 people died attempting the crossing that year, a 58 percent increase from 2023.

The latest incident follows another deadly accident in August 2025, when at least 70 migrants were killed after a boat believed to have departed from Gambia capsized.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the fate of those still missing as rescue efforts continue.