At least 39 people have died after a migrant boat capsized in waters off Jinack in North Bank Region, according to the Ministry of Defence.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry said coordinated rescue and recovery operations were launched immediately after the incident, following national emergency response procedures and international maritime safety and humanitarian standards.

The authorities confirmed that 112 people were rescued alive.

Those saved include 54 Gambians, 42 Senegalese, nine Guineans from Conakry, three Malians, two Ivorians, and one national each from Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone.

The ministry said 24 of the bodies were recovered within Gambian waters, while a further 15 were found on the Senegalese side of the border, highlighting the cross-border nature of the operation.

All survivors have been transferred to relevant institutions for medical checks, psychosocial support and administrative processing, in line with national laws and international humanitarian obligations.

Officials said efforts to identify the deceased and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The Gambian government expressed gratitude to all agencies involved in the rescue operation, with special thanks to the Spanish Guardia Civil for its support and cooperation in the maritime response.

By Adama Makasuba