A migrant boat reportedly carrying more than 200 people capsized around midnight off the coast of The Gambia’s North Bank Region, leaving at least seven people dead and 96 others rescued, authorities said on Thursday.
The Gambian Ministry of Defence said the wooden vessel overturned near Jinack Village while attempting to make the perilous Atlantic crossing toward Spain’s Canary Islands, a route frequently used by migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Following a distress alert, the Gambian Navy launched an extensive search, rescue and recovery operation, deploying multiple naval speedboats, a coastal patrol vessel and with assistance from local fishing crews.
Of the 96 people rescued, 39 were taken to hospital and 57 received medical care at a naval base. At least ten of those rescued were in critical condition and receiving urgent treatment.
The bodies of seven migrants have been recovered so far, and a number of passengers remain missing, with authorities continuing efforts to locate them. Some of the deceased and survivors are believed to be of non‑Gambian nationality, and officials are verifying identities.
The incident highlights the dangers of irregular migration along the West African route, which has seen thousands of migrants risk their lives each year on overcrowded and often unsafe vessels in hopes of reaching Europe.
