Seven die, 96 rescued as migrant boat sinks off Gambia

The Atlantic migration ‍route from the coast of west Africa to the Canary Islands, typically used by African migrants trying to reach Spain, is one ​of the world's deadliest.

More ‌than 46,000 irregular migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024, ​a record according to the European ‍Union.

More than 10,000 died attempting the journey, a 58 per cent increase over 2023, ​according ​to the rights ​group Caminando Fronteras.

At least ​70 people were killed in August 2025 when a boat believed to have departed from Gambia carrying migrants capsized, in one of the deadliest accidents in recent years.