Outpost – At least seven people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of The Gambia, authorities have confirmed.
Dozens of others remain missing as rescue operations continue.
The vessel, reportedly carrying over 200 passengers, capsized around midnight on 31 December near Jinack Village in the North Bank Region, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Gambian naval forces responded immediately after receiving a distress alert. The patrol vessel GNS JAMBARR, on routine fisheries protection duty, was redirected to the scene.
A second naval rescue vessel left the Fisheries Jetty in Banjul at approximately 01:00 local time on New Year’s Day to join the operation.
The distressed boat was later found grounded on a sandbank. The rescue involved three naval speedboats and a coastal patrol vessel, with assistance from a local fishing canoe whose operators volunteered to help.
This is a developing story.
