Ship bound for Canary Islands capsizes in Gambia, killing seven and leaving dozens missing

A boat carrying about 200 migrants trying to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, killing at least seven people and leaving many missing, authorities said.

The ship capsized near the village of Jinak in the North Shore region at midnight on Wednesday and was later found “stranded on a sandbar,” the country’s defense ministry said in a statement.

Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and the search continues for other passengers on the wrecked ship, which was heading to Spain’s Canary Islands.

The perilous journey across the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.

Nearly 47,000 people arrived in the Canary Islands in 2024, and Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras estimates that more than 9,000 migrants have died en route.

The Gambia’s defense ministry said the Gambia’s navy launched a search and rescue operation following Wednesday’s incident, with several naval vessels and a fishing boat arriving to provide assistance.

Authorities did not say what type of boat they were, but they are typically large wooden canoes not suitable for voyages of more than 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean. They are often overcrowded.

The Defense Ministry said several of the victims were not Gambian nationals and their identities were still being verified.

Seven bodies have been recovered so far, and 10 of them are said to be in critical condition and receiving emergency medical treatment.

The Gambia is increasingly used by West African migrants and asylum seekers as a starting point for crossing Spain’s Canary Islands and on to mainland Europe.

The EU has struck deals with several North African countries in recent years aimed at reducing irregular migration, but this has forced many migrants to choose the longer and more dangerous Atlantic route.