Banjul, November 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A total of 101 migrants were rescued off the coast of The Gambia after their boat caught fire near Sika and Albreda, the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) said on Sunday.
The rescue operation was jointly conducted by the GID’s migration management and border patrol units in Barra, the Gambia Red Cross Society, the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services and the Gambia Navy.
According to the GID, those rescued included 72 Senegalese nationals, 27 Gambians and two Guineans. All were male, including five minors.
At the time of the department’s statement, 14 rescued migrants were receiving treatment at Essau Health Center. Two others had been treated and discharged from Albreda Health Center and were assisting investigators.
The incident highlights the risks faced by migrants undertaking dangerous sea journeys in search of routes to Europe.
In a separate incident on September 28, three migrants died after a taxi-boat sank off northern France. According to French broadcaster France Info, 105 people were aboard the vessel near Wissant in the Pas-de-Calais department. Four others sustained minor injuries.
The capacity of boats used for migrant crossings of the English Channel has reportedly increased in recent years. Citing the maritime prefecture, France Info said the average capacity rose from 26 people in 2021 to 65 since the beginning of 2026.
In another rescue operation in August, a humanitarian vessel operated by Italian organisation Emergency rescued 50 migrants in international waters off Libya, while the bodies of seven others were recovered. The survivors were transferred to the humanitarian ship.
Libya remains a major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean, where boat accidents frequently result in deaths and disappearances.
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