Tragic migrant boat wreck: DUBAWA explains how wooden boat capsized

For weeks, local and international media have been reporting on a tragic migrant boat disaster in Gambian waters after an overloaded wooden vessel capsized on New Year’s Eve. 

The boat had departed from Jinack Island, a remote fishing community in Niumi, The Gambia, en route to the Canary Islands in Spain.

Conflicting figures have since emerged regarding the number of passengers and fatalities. 

While official government sources report a lower death toll, migration activists and survivors insist the number of deaths is far higher. 

Amid these contradictions, misinformation has overshadowed the real causes of the tragedy.

In this explainer, DUBAWA reconstructs how the boat capsized, drawing on firsthand testimonies from survivors. 

These accounts reveal that delayed rescue efforts, rather than the initial capsize alone, played a decisive role in the massive loss of life.

What Happened on New Year’s Eve?

An overloaded wooden boat carrying more than 200 migrants from different countries departed Jinack Island at approximately 10:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025. 

The vessel was powered by two propeller engines, one 60 horsepower and the other 40 horsepower, and had reportedly remained at sea for three days with migrants already on board before departing on 31st December, 2025.

However, survivors said the 60-horsepower engine failed less than 30 minutes from departure, leaving captains to rely on a single 40-horsepower engine.

According to information obtained by DUBAWA, the boat was operated by “inexperienced captains” after the “most experienced captain” withdrew shortly after departure.

Abdoulie Njie, a survivor, said he became suspicious when the experienced captain abandoned the boat less than 30 minutes into the journey.

“I started to be suspicious because he was the most experienced captain. He then joined a small boat that was escorting us,” Njie testified.

Less than an hour after departure, passengers began noticing problems, with the vessel loaded with passengers believed to be from The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Burkina Faso, among others.

“People started reporting that water was entering the boat, but at first it wasn’t taken seriously,” Njie said.

Survivors explained that the vessel repeatedly struck sandbanks, causing the captains to lose control. “The captains lost control, and the boat capsized,” Njie said. They praised The Gambia Red Cross Society for its tireless efforts during rescue operations.

See several reports about the tragedy here, here, here, and here. 

The moment of the capsize

Yankuba Jaiteh, another survivor and group leader, said the boat capsized around midnight. However, he emphasised that the majority of deaths did not happen immediately.

“At the time of the incident, only three people had died,” Jaiteh said. “The water was only at knee level because many people had disembarked onto a sandbank due to low tide.”

Jaiteh narrated that they began calling for rescue at 12:00 a.m., but the first rescue boat did not arrive until about 3:00 a.m., three hours later, and rescued fewer than 30 people. 

He explained that the survivors were rescued at sunrise, when many had perished in the water, with those remaining feeling completely exhausted.

How many people were on board?

Survivors consistently disputed the official claim that approximately 200 migrants were on the boat.

Muhammed Kandeh, a survivor, said the boat was carrying at least 250 people.

“Even if the boat didn’t capsize, there would have been many deaths before reaching Spain because it was overloaded,” Kandeh said.

He explained that, before departure, the boat already had over 200 passengers, and that three additional smaller boats later transferred more migrants onto it.

“I can tell you we were about 250 or more; the figure is much higher than 200,” he said.

Jaiteh estimated the number of passengers at over 230, while Njie also placed the figure at around 250 or more. 

These consistent testimonies suggest the official passenger count significantly underestimates the true number.

How many died and when?

Jaiteh stated that between midnight and 3:00 a.m. on January 1, only three people died.

However, as panic spread, some passengers emptied fuel containers to use them as flotation devices, actions that inadvertently endangered others already in the water.

Jaiteh, who was among the last group rescued approximately seven hours after the incident, said more than 100 people died between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m., when high tide returned.

“The waves were just taking people, and the rescue team was nowhere to be seen. This delay caused many deaths,” he said.

Recounting the tragedy, Njie stated, “If 100 people died, I can tell you more than 75 died between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. when no rescue came,” he said, adding that survivors were exhausted as waves intensified.

Official figures vs survivor accounts

The government reported that 112 survivors were rescued and 39 bodies recovered from various locations in The Gambia and Senegal. Based on these figures, authorities estimate that 88 people died, with many bodies still missing.

Survivors, however, insist the death toll exceeds 140 people, citing the large number of passengers and the prolonged delay in rescue. 

Renowned Migration activist Adrian Corish has warned that if smugglers are not dealt with seriously, this trend will continue, and Africa will lose its young people.

“The death toll is higher than what’s reported,” he said, adding that authorities have failed to provide adequate rescue when it was needed the most.

Were rescue efforts sufficient?

Survivors unanimously told DUBAWA that delayed rescue efforts were the primary cause of the high death toll.

“If the rescue team had come earlier, many people would not have died,” said Nfamara Senghore, another survivor.

Kandeh, who was among the first to be rescued, said only 25 people were brought to shore during the night.

“The boat that rescued us carried only 15 people. Later, another boat brought 10 more. After that, we didn’t see any survivors until morning,” he said. 

Government response and fuel shortage claims

Following the incident, the government stated that it had deployed “adequate resources” for rescue operations. However, media reports alleged that the response was delayed due to fuel shortages at the navy base in Banjul, a claim the Ministry of Interior denied. Survivors, however, contradict the government’s denial.

Senghore told DUBAWA that after being rescued, he noticed several boats at the navy base that were not deployed. “She told me clearly that there was no fuel in the boats,” he said.

Official sources will not publicly confirm the claim.

Women and children on board

Multiple sources told DUBAWA that the boat was also carrying approximately 30 women and 10 children, further underscoring the scale of the humanitarian tragedy.

Conclusion

The government has announced that it will launch a thorough investigation and ensure smugglers are dealt with in accordance with the law, despite growing public concerns over political will. Many believe the government is not ready to tackle irregular migration, despite official reports indicating otherwise.