The death toll from a Europe-bound migrant boat that capsized off Gambia’s coast on New Year’s Eve has risen to 39, officials said.
Survivors described the vessel as overcrowded and dilapidated, highlighting the extreme risks faced by West Africans attempting dangerous maritime journeys to Europe.
Gambia’s defence ministry had initially reported seven deaths and said more than 200 people could have been on board the ill-fated vessel.
As of Wednesday, authorities had rescued 112 people, according to Sima Lowe, public relations officer for Gambia’s Immigration Department, and a defence official.
The West African migration route toward Spain via the Canary Islands is widely recognised as one of the world’s deadliest migration paths.
Survivors interviewed in Gambia described the harrowing journey, revealing the desperation that drives young people to risk their lives for opportunity abroad.
Sadibou Fatty, a survivor, said poverty and lack of prospects forced him to attempt the journey, calling it “traumatic” and life-threatening.
“I survived the tragedy but lost friends and fellow passengers,” he said, noting that swimming skills saved his life.
Of the 39 confirmed deaths, 24 bodies were recovered in Gambian waters and 15 in Senegalese territory, according to a defence ministry official.
Passengers included citizens from Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone, reflecting the region’s widespread migration pressures.
Kajali Camara, another survivor, said relatives in Europe inspired his journey, hoping to support his family while seeking a better life abroad.
Gambia’s government reported intercepting over 2,700 would-be migrants in 2025, reflecting ongoing challenges in controlling irregular migration flows.
During the first eleven months of 2025, irregular migration from West Africa into the European Union dropped by 60%, Frontex reported.
The reduction is credited to stronger preventive measures by departure countries collaborating with EU member states to curb dangerous crossings.
The tragedy underscores the perilous choices migrants face and the continuing human cost of irregular migration along West Africa’s maritime routes.