A migrant boat carrying over 200 people capsized off Gambia, with seven bodies recovered and 96 rescued, highlighting the deadly Atlantic migration route.
BANJUL: Seven bodies were recovered and 96 people were rescued after a migrant boat capsized overnight off the coast of The Gambia.
The country’s defence ministry stated the vessel was “allegedly carrying over 200 migrants”.
Ten of the rescued migrants are in critical condition and receiving urgent medical attention.
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The incident occurred on the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands.
This route is one of the world’s deadliest for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
More than 46,000 irregular migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024, a record according to the European Union.
The rights group Caminando Fronteras reported over 10,000 died attempting the journey last year, a 58% increase over 2023.
In one of the deadliest recent accidents, at least 70 people were killed in August 2025 when a boat from Gambia capsized. – Reuters
