Boat Capsizes Off The Gambia, At Least Seven Migrants Dead
Around midnight on Wednesday, a boat carrying about 200 migrants capsized off The Gambia near Jinack village in the North Bank Region. The vessel was later found grounded on a sandbank.
At least seven people have died and 96 have been rescued. The search for other passengers is ongoing, with 10 of the rescued in critical condition. The boat was headed towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat. Some victims are not Gambian nationals, and their identities are being verified.
The Gambia is a common route for migrants attempting to reach Europe. The EU has agreements with several North African countries to curb irregular migration. In 2024, nearly 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands, while Caminando Fronteras estimates that more than 9,000 have died pursuing the route.
This incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by migrants making the Atlantic journey from Africa to Europe.
