Gambiaj.com – (Joal, Senegal) – Joal beach was the scene of a tragic incident in the early hours of Wednesday, 24 December 2025, after a migrant boat carrying more than 200 people attempting to reach Europe landed on the Senegalese coast with a provisional death toll of 12.

According to security sources, the alert was raised around 2:00 a.m. when the pirogue, which had been drifting at sea, washed ashore on the Petite Côte. Authorities later confirmed that 12 bodies were recovered at the scene.

The vessel had departed from the coast of The Gambia several days earlier, with Spain’s Canary Islands as its intended final destination. On board were mostly foreign nationals, along with two Senegalese migrants.

Emergency responders and local authorities moved swiftly to assist the survivors, many of whom were found in a state of extreme exhaustion, underscoring the severity of the ordeal at sea. Among those taken into care were 18 women and a six-month-old infant.

Elements of the Joal gendarmerie brigade were immediately deployed to secure the area, coordinate rescue efforts, and provide support to the survivors. Medical and emergency services remain on standby as assistance operations continue.

Senegalese authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that caused the boat to run aground and to identify those responsible for organizing the clandestine journey.

The tragedy once again highlights the dangers of irregular migration routes across the Atlantic, particularly during the harsh conditions often encountered on the perilous voyage toward Europe.