Migrant boat sinks off coast of Gambia, at least 12 dead

A boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Gambia on Thursday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 12 lives, according to the Red Cross. The vessel had departed from Jinack Kajata, a village on an Atlantic island that has become a common departure point for migrants seeking to reach Spain's Canary Islands. The perilous journey across the Atlantic is fraught with danger due to strong currents and often unsafe, overcrowded vessels.

The exact number of individuals still missing remains unknown, pending ongoing rescue efforts. This incident follows a deadly sinking in Jinack Kajata in December 2025, which claimed over 40 lives and left around 100 people unaccounted for. Recent increased patrolling off the coasts of Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal has forced migrants to venture farther south, extending the hazardous journey.

The Canary Islands, along with Mediterranean routes to Italy and Greece, represent one of the primary entry points into Europe for migrants fleeing poverty, conflict, and persecution. In 2024, arrivals to the Atlantic archipelago reached a peak of over 46,000, but the numbers have since sharply declined as Spain seeks to reduce such arrivals.