At least 7 dead, many missing as migrant boat sinks off Gambia

January 02, 2026 / 5:57 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: At least seven people drowned and many remain missing after a boat carrying around 200 migrants capsized off the coast of Gambia during the night of Wednesday to Thursday, authorities said.

Rescue operations underway

The Gambian Navy launched a search and rescue operation after receiving a distress call around midnight on 31 December 2025. Several naval vessels, assisted by a local fishing boat, took part in the mission. So far, 96 people have been rescued, many seriously injured. The capsized vessel was later found aground on a sandbank.

Victims and identification

Several victims have been identified as non-Gambian, and authorities are working to verify their identities.

Migrant routes and rising risks

Many Africans attempt to reach Spain’s Canary Islands as a gateway to Europe, often facing perilous sea voyages. Recent increases in maritime controls in Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco have forced migrants to depart from farther locations like Gambia and Guinea-Conakry, extending their time at sea and heightening the risks of such tragedies.