At least 31 dead in New Year's migrant boat sinking off GambiaBANJUL, Gambia, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - At least 31 people drowned when an overloaded boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized on New Year's Eve off the coast of Gambia, the government said on Monday, hiking the previous toll. "Many others (are) missing and feared dead," the government said in an update. In the latest such tragedy, a boat loaded with more than 200 people made a distress call overnight December 31 to January 1 near the North Bank region. The Gambian Navy launched a hunt for survivors after midnight, involving several vessels and a fishing boat. "Fifteen bodies are confirmed to be recovered from the Gambia and 16 in Senegal," said the government in its update, hiking the previous toll of at least 7 dead.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 06, 2026 05:06 UTC