The key facts

  • At least 12 people died in the wreck of a migrant boat off the coast of Gambia, the Gambia Red Cross Federation reported
  • The number of missing is unknown; rescue operations are ongoing
  • According to IOM, the Atlantic route is becoming increasingly dangerous: deaths have barely decreased despite a 62% drop in arrivals

Wreck off Jinack Island

At least 12 people died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Gambia, the Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) said on Thursday. The incident occurred near Jinack Kajata in the North Bank Region. According to reports, the migrants were heading to Europe via the West African Atlantic route.

Fate of the other passengers unknown

“The number of missing remains uncertain, with further updates expected as rescue operations continue,” the GRCS statement said, adding that it is working closely with the authorities and response partners. According to Gambian media, the village of Jinack Kajata on Jinack Island is becoming an increasingly popular departure point for migrants heading to the Canary Islands (Spain).

The route is becoming more dangerous

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) calls the West African Atlantic route a key pathway for migrants from West Africa to Europe, despite the growing danger. According to IOM data published this week, arrivals to the Canaries have fallen by 62% from the 2024 peak, yet the number of dead and missing has barely changed: from 1,215 in 2024 to 1,172 in 2025 (down 4%).

Departure points shifting south

IOM notes that tightened controls at traditional departure points — Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal — are pushing migrants further south, including to Gambia. Such alternative departure points can add up to 750 km to the crossing, extending the journey to roughly 2,200 km and increasing the risks of shipwreck, dehydration and people going missing due to longer time at sea and less monitored shores. In July, dozens of dead and missing were reported after the wreck of a vessel that had departed from Gambia, off the coast of Mauritania.