A boat carrying over 200 migrants bound for Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia on New Year's Eve, leaving seven dead and dozens missing, according to Gambian President Adama Barrow. In a state broadcast, Barrow confirmed that 102 survivors have been rescued and seven bodies recovered from the vessel, which overturned in the North Bank region near the village of Jinack.
Emergency services, local fishermen, and volunteers have joined the search for victims days after the incident. The Gambia's Ministry of Defense reported that the boat was found 'grounded on a sandbank.' The cause of the capsizing remains unclear.
Barrow stated that the national emergency response plan has been activated and adequate resources deployed to intensify efforts and provide assistance to the survivors. Some of the 102 survivors are undergoing urgent medical care.
Condoling with families, Barrow called the accident a 'painful reminder of the dangerous and life-threatening nature of irregular migration.' He vowed a full investigation and said the government will strengthen efforts to prevent irregular migration while creating safer opportunities for young people.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the world's deadliest migrant passages. Similar tragedies occurred in August 2025 off Mauritania with around 150 dead or missing, and in July 2024 with over a dozen killed and 150 missing.
