The Gambia Red Cross Society reported that at least 12 people died after a migrant boat sank off Jinack Kajata. The number of missing remains uncertain as rescue efforts continue.
At least 12 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Gambia, according to the Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS). The incident occurred off Jinack Kajata in the country's North Bank region, the GRCS said on Thursday. The migrants were reportedly heading towards Europe via the West African Atlantic Route.
The GRCS stated that the number of people missing remains uncertain. "The number of people missing remains uncertain, and further updates are expected as response efforts continue," the GRCS said in a statement. The organization added that it was "working closely with relevant authorities and response partners as the situation unfolds."
Kuwait Times, citing AFP, reported that rescuers had recovered 12 bodies, with an unknown number still missing. The boat had set off from the village of Jinack Kajata, located on an Atlantic island that residents say has become a frequent departure point for migrants trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
The United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM) identifies the West African Atlantic Route as a key pathway for West African migrants travelling to Europe, despite increasing dangers. According to the IOM, while arrivals to the Canary Islands fell considerably since the 2024 peak, recorded deaths and disappearances remained broadly unchanged.
"Data from the West African Atlantic Route show that while arrivals to the Canary Islands fell considerably since the 2024 peak (62 per cent decrease from 2024 to 2025), recorded deaths and disappearances remained broadly unchanged, falling 4 per cent from 2024 to 2025 (1,215 to 1,172), highlighting how the route has become much more dangerous for migrants," the IOM said earlier this week.
The IOM noted that increased controls in traditional departure spots in Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal have pushed some migrants seeking to reach Europe further south, towards countries such as The Gambia. "These alternative departure points can add up to 750 kilometres to the crossing, extending some journeys to approximately 2,200 kilometres and exposing people to longer periods at sea, more remote and less monitored coastlines, and greater risks of shipwreck, dehydration and disappearance," the IOM said.
This incident follows other recent tragedies on the route. In December 2025, another boat sank off Jinack Kajata, killing more than 40 people and leaving around 100 missing, according to Kuwait Times. In July, dozens of migrants were reportedly dead or missing after a vessel travelling from The Gambia was shipwrecked off the coast of Mauritania.
The sinking highlights the persistent dangers of the West African Atlantic Route. Despite a significant drop in arrivals to the Canary Islands, the death toll has not decreased proportionally, indicating that the journey has become more lethal. The shift of departure points further south due to tighter patrols in northern countries has extended the length of the crossing, increasing the risks of shipwreck and disappearance for migrants fleeing poverty, conflict, and persecution.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a military camp in southern Yemen with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 recruits and wounding 200 others, according to local authorities.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a Yemeni government military camp in Shabwa province with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 soldiers and wounding 200 recruits.