Boat of hope turns to death trap as 200 migrants go missing off Gambia coast

A desperate midnight journey to Europe ended in tragedy off the coast of The Gambia after a boat carrying about 200 migrants capsized, leaving at least seven people dead and dozens still missing.

The overloaded vessel overturned around midnight on Wednesday near Jinack village in the country’s North Bank Region, Gambian authorities confirmed.

According to the defence ministry, the boat was later found grounded on a sandbank, but by then, the sea had already claimed several lives.

So far, 96 migrants have been rescued, while search-and-rescue operations continue for many others believed to have been onboard and are yet to be accounted for.

The Gambian Navy launched an emergency rescue effort involving multiple naval vessels, with a local fishing boat also joining the operation in a race against time.

The bodies of seven victims have been recovered, while at least 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical attention.

Authorities disclosed that not all the victims are Gambian nationals, adding that efforts are ongoing to verify the identities of the dead and missing.

The ill-fated boat was reportedly heading for Spain’s Canary Islands, an Atlantic route that has become a last hope for thousands of African migrants fleeing poverty, conflict and hopelessness at home.

In 2024 alone, nearly 47,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands, while thousands more were not so lucky. Aid groups estimate that over 9,000 people died attempting the dangerous crossing.

The Gambia remains one of the key departure points for migrants risking everything on unsafe boats, driven by a growing “try or die” mindset in the search for a better life.