At least seven people drowned and many others are missing after a migrant boat capsized overnight off the coast of The Gambia, authorities said. The vessel, reportedly carrying around 200 people, overturned near Jinack Village in the North Bank Region around midnight on December 31.
At least 96 people were rescued, many suffering serious injuries after hours clinging to debris in dark and rough waters. The Gambian Navy launched a search and rescue operation following a distress call, deploying several naval vessels and assisted by a local fishing boat.
The wrecked boat was later found grounded on a sandbank, offering a fragile lifeline to some survivors as help arrived. Authorities said several victims were not Gambian nationals, and efforts are under way to confirm identities and nationalities.
Each year, thousands of Africans attempt dangerous Atlantic crossings to Spain’s Canary Islands, seen as a gateway to mainland Europe. Tighter maritime controls in Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco have pushed smugglers to launch boats from farther south, including Gambia and Guinea-Conakry. The longer journeys increase time at sea and risk, turning fragile wooden boats into drifting symbols of hope and loss.