The confirmed death toll from a migrant boat disaster off the coast of The Gambia has risen to 39, according to official statements from Gambian authorities.
Officials said 24 bodies were recovered in Gambian waters, while 15 others were found in neighboring Senegalese waters following multi-day search and rescue operations. At least 112 people were rescued from the overcrowded vessel, which was carrying more than 200 migrants from across West Africa.
The accident occurred shortly after midnight on December 31, 2025, when the boat capsized near Jinack village in the North Bank Region. Preliminary investigations suggest the vessel struck a submerged sandbank in rough sea conditions.
President Adama Barrow described the incident as a “painful reminder” of the dangers of irregular migration and pledged a full investigation, vowing that those responsible for organizing the journey would be held accountable.
The tragedy highlights the continued risks of the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, which humanitarian groups describe as one of the deadliest migration corridors worldwide.
