Banjul – At least 31 people drowned when an overloaded boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized on New Year’s Eve off the coast of Gambia, the government said on Monday, hiking the previous toll.
Migrant boats have been forced to leave from further south, notably from The Gambia and Guinea, adding to the journey – and dangers – at sea, after Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco increased maritime patrols.
Death Toll Rises to 22 in Gambia Migrant Boat Tragedy Off Jinack Coast
The death toll from the tragic capsizing of a migrant boat off the coast of Jinack village has climbed to 22, according to an update from migrant advocate Ebrima Drammeh of the Migrant Situation Movement.… pic.twitter.com/D4jBX2Dwai
— The Alkamba Times (@TheAlkambaTimes) January 5, 2026
In the latest such tragedy, a boat loaded with more than 200 people made a distress call overnight December 31 to January 1 near the North Bank region.
The Gambian Navy launched a hunt for survivors after midnight, involving several vessels and a fishing boat. The stricken vessel was later found on a sandbank.
“Fifteen bodies are confirmed to be recovered from the Gambia and 16 in Senegal,” said the government in its update, hiking the previous toll of at least 7 dead. 102 people were rescued, 23 of whom were hospitalised.
President Adama Barrow said on Friday that the country was in mourning over the disaster.
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Source: AFP
