At least 7 dead, many missing as migrant boat sinks off Gambia

Gambian President Adama Barrow said in an address to the nation that 102 people had been rescued and seven bodies recovered after a migrant boat capsized overnight Wednesday off the coast of Gambia.

Alerted by a distress call, the Gambian Navy launched a search and rescue operation after midnight, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, according to the Government. Several of the victims have been identified as not being of Gambian nationality and the authorities are currently verifying their identity, the statement added.