By Makutu Manneh
A joint security operation rescued 72 irregular migrants from a boat that caught fire off the coast of Bunyadu in the early hours of Monday, June 15, 2026, according to a statement from the Gambia Immigration Department (GID).
The rescue operation was conducted by the Gambia Immigration Department, Gambia Navy, Gambia Fire and Rescue Services, Gambia Police Force, and the Gambia Red Cross Society, with support from the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Common Operational Partnership (COP 2 Project).
According to the GID, the migrants included 61 males and 12 females, among them a 20-year-old pregnant woman and five minors. The group comprised 35 Senegalese, 33 Gambians, three Sierra Leoneans, and one Guinean national.
The department reported that 33 migrants sustained burn injuries during the incident. Of those injured, 21 were treated and discharged, while nine remain under medical care. Three individuals with minor injuries reportedly left the hospital before completing treatment.
“Of the total number rescued, 33 migrants sustained burn injuries during the incident. 21 of them were treated and discharged, while 9 remain under medical care, and three minor injuries absconded from the hospital during treatment,” GID stated.
The GID stated that all discharged and uninjured migrants have been transferred to the Tanji Migration Management Centre pending further investigations and necessary procedures.
The department commended the swift response of all participating agencies and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health personnel, civil society organizations, particularly Ebrima Migrants Situation, and other stakeholders who supported the rescue effort.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating irregular migration, the GID described the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with irregular migration routes and called for stronger security measures, intensified public awareness campaigns, and enhanced community support mechanisms to curb unsafe migration attempts.
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