At least seven people have died and dozens are missing after a migrant boat carrying more than 200 people capsized off The Gambia’s North Bank Region. The Gambian navy rescued at least 96 people and later found the vessel grounded on a sandbank. Several victims are non-Gambian and authorities are verifying identities. The incident underscores the continuing dangers of the West Africa–to–Canary Islands migration route, which saw more than 46,000 arrivals in 2024 and thousands of deaths in recent years.
At Least Seven Dead and Dozens Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off The Gambia
A boy plays on a pirogue that had reportedly carried migrants from The Gambia en route to Spain, beached on Malibu Plage in Dakar, Senegal, on July 1, 2025 [ Zohra Bensemra/Reuters]
At least seven people have died and dozens are believed missing after a boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized overnight off The Gambia’s coast, authorities said.
The Ministry of Defence reported the vessel overturned around midnight on Thursday near a village in the North Bank Region. The Gambian navy launched a search-and-rescue operation after a distress call, deploying several naval vessels while a local fishing boat also assisted.
Officials said seven bodies were recovered and at least 96 people were rescued, many with serious injuries. The stricken vessel was later found grounded on a sandbank. Several of the victims have been identified as non-Gambian nationals; authorities are working to verify identities and continue searching for those still missing.
Route and Wider Context
The Gambia has become a common departure point for migrants and asylum seekers attempting the perilous sea crossing to Spain’s Canary Islands, a frequent gateway to mainland Europe. According to the European Union, more than 46,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024.
Human-rights group Caminando Fronteras estimates that over 10,000 people died attempting the Atlantic crossing, a 58% increase compared with 2023. At the same time, EU border agency Frontex reports irregular migration to the EU via the West African route fell about 60% during the first 11 months of 2025, a decline it attributed to stronger prevention efforts by countries of departure.
Despite those broader trends, migrants continue to risk the journey on overcrowded, often unseaworthy vessels. In a separate incident in May, seven women and girls died when a small boat carrying more than 100 people capsized while approaching the Canary Islands.
Update: Authorities continue search operations and are working to identify victims and notify families.
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