A boat carrying around 200 migrants has sunk off the northern coast of Gambia near Jang village. The migrants were attempting to reach Europe through a dangerous sea route when the incident happened.
The boat reportedly sank late on Wednesday night. According to local authorities, at least seven migrants have been confirmed dead, while dozens are still missing. Rescue efforts began immediately after the incident was reported.
So far, officials say 96 migrants have been rescued alive. Search and rescue teams are still working to locate those who remain missing. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise as operations continue.
Rescue teams are coordinating with local and regional agencies to expand the search area. Poor weather conditions and overcrowding on the boat are believed to have contributed to the tragedy.
This incident adds to a growing number of deadly migrant journeys across dangerous sea routes. Similar migrant boat disasters have been reported in other regions, including Libya, Lebanon, Thailand, and Malaysia. Many migrants continue to risk their lives due to conflict, poverty, and lack of safe migration options.
Officials have once again urged migrants to avoid unsafe sea crossings. They stressed that overcrowded and unregulated boats put lives at serious risk and often lead to tragic outcomes.
Authorities and humanitarian groups continue to call for safer and legal migration pathways to prevent further loss of life. They say stronger protection and support for migrants are urgently needed to stop these repeated tragedies at sea.