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Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Gambia: 7 Dead, Dozens Missing in Atlantic Tragedy

A vessel carrying more than 200 migrants capsized near Gambia's North Bank region, resulting in at least seven fatalities and leaving dozens missing. The Gambian navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, locating the boat grounded on a sandbank after rescuing 96 survivors. This tragedy highlights the perilous migration route from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands, where over 10,000 people died attempting the crossing in 2024. Despite a recent decline in irregular migration due to stronger preventive measures, migrants continue risking the dangerous Atlantic journey on overcrowded boats.

Key Points: 7 Dead, Dozens Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Gambia

  • 7 bodies recovered
  • 96 survivors rescued
  • Over 200 on board
  • Route to Canary Islands
2 min read

7 dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes off Gambia

A boat carrying over 200 migrants capsized off Gambia's coast, leaving 7 dead and dozens missing. Rescue operations continue amid rising Atlantic crossing deaths.

"Over 10,000 people died trying to make the journey across the Atlantic. - Caminando Fronteras"

Banjul, January 2

At least seven people have died, and dozens remain missing after a boat carrying more than 200 passengers capsized along a major migration route off the Gambian coast, Al Jazeera cited local authorities as saying.

The Gambian Ministry of Defence stated that the vessel capsized around midnight on Thursday near a village in the North Bank region. Authorities reported that seven bodies have been recovered, and at least 96 people were rescued, many suffering serious injuries, Al Jazeera reported.

The Gambian navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation after midnight, deploying multiple naval vessels along with a fishing boat that came to assist, the Ministry of Defence said. The capsized vessel was later located "grounded on a sandbank," the statement added.

Several of the victims are confirmed to be non-Gambian, and authorities are working to verify their identities, Al Jazeera reported.

The Gambia has become a key departure point for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands, a main entry to continental Europe, by boat from West Africa.

According to the European Union, over 46,000 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in 2024.

More than 10,000 people died trying to make the journey across the Atlantic, marking a 58 per cent increase compared to 2023, rights group Caminando Fronteras reported, Al Jazeera reported.

However, irregular migration from West Africa to the EU fell by 60 per cent in the first 11 months of 2025, Al Jazeera reported, citing the Frontex border agency, attributing the decline to stronger preventive measures by countries of departure.

Despite the risks, migrants and asylum seekers continue attempting the journey to Europe on fragile and often overcrowded boats.

In May last year, a small vessel carrying over 100 people capsized near the Canary Islands, resulting in the deaths of seven women and girls, Al Jazeera reported.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the tragedy is immense, the report says migration fell by 60% due to stronger preventive measures. This is key. Countries of origin need to create opportunities so people don't feel forced to risk everything on these deadly journeys. Development is the real solution.
A
Aman W
It's a complex issue. We see similar desperation in parts of our own region. The EU's focus on "stronger preventive measures" sounds good, but we must ask: are they preventing migration or just pushing people onto more dangerous routes? The human right to seek asylum must be protected.
S
Sarah B
The numbers are staggering. 46,000 arrivals, 10,000 deaths. These aren't just statistics, they are people with families and dreams. The international community needs a more compassionate and coordinated response to address the root causes—conflict, poverty, climate change.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, while we sympathize, India has its own challenges with illegal migration and border security. We understand the need for controlled borders. The solution lies in source countries stabilizing their economies and politics. No one should have to flee their home.
N
Nisha Z
So tragic. "Fragile and overcrowded boats" – it's a gamble with life. I hope the rescue operations find more survivors. This news hits hard, especially thinking about the non-Gambian victims whose families might not even know yet. 🙏

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