Gambian President Adam Barrow, announced late Friday that dozens of people remain missing after a boat carrying over 200 migrants headed for Europe capsized off the coast of the Gambia on New Year’s Eve.
He stated in a national broadcast that at least 102 survivors and seven bodies had been recovered from the capsized boat in the North Bank region of northwest Gambia.
President Barrow noted that several of the survivors were receiving critical medical attention. “The government has deployed sufficient resources to intensify efforts and provide assistance to the survivors, and the national emergency response plan has been activated,” he stated.
Days after Wednesday’s catastrophe in the village of Jinack, local fisherman and other volunteers joined the emergency services in the hunt for the victims, according to the president.
What caused the catastrophe was unclear. The boat was discovered “grounded on a sandbank,” according to the Gambia’s Ministry of Defence.
President Barrow promised a thorough enquiry and described the incident as a “painful reminder of the dangerous and life-threatening nature of irregular migration” while he consoled the families.
“The government is committed to creating safer and more dignified opportunities for young people to fulfil their dreams and will intensify efforts to prevent irregular migration,” he continued.
One of the worst migration routes in the world, the Atlantic coast connects the West African coast with Senegal, Mauritania, and the Gambia. Thousands of Africans, desperate for better chances in Europe, risk their lives by going on boats along this path.
Due to the significant risk of boat capsizing, many migrants attempting to enter Spain via the Canary Islands never make it. In 2025, almost 3,000 people perished while attempting to enter Spain by sea.
