Overall Green Forest fire in Gambia from 27 Jan 2026 00:00 UTC to 01 Feb 2026 00:00 UTC

GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide to improve awareness, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

Forest Fire (6849 ha) in Gambia 27 Jan 2026

Event summary

This forest fire is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the burned area and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID	WF 1027279
Countries:	Gambia
Start Date - Last detection*:	27 Jan 2026 - 01 Feb 2026
Duration (days):	5
People affected:	1765 in the burned area
Burned area:	6849 ha
More Info:	Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS score click here.

Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

31 Jan 04:01 31 Jan 16:01 01 Feb 00:01 01 Feb 04:01 01 Feb 16:01 11 Feb 20:07

Impact Timeline

ID	Score	Population Affected	Burned Area (ha)	Last Update	Source
1	0.5	1333	5111	31 Jan 2026 03:00	GWIS
2	0.5	1334	5792	31 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
3	0.5	1508	6376	31 Jan 2026 23:00	GWIS
4	0.5	1508	6464	01 Feb 2026 03:00	GWIS
5	0.5	1765	6835	01 Feb 2026 15:00	GWIS
6	0.5	1765	6849	11 Feb 2026 19:00	GWIS

Fires Joined

This event includes other close identified fires:

Exposed population

The forest fire happened in Gambia , Division of Lower River (population 226,789) . The nearest places are Banjul, Kaolack, and Ziguinchor.

Radius	Population
10 km	26000 people
5 km	5300 people
2 km	3700 people
1 km	3600 people
Burned Area	1800 people

Affected Provinces

Region Province	Country	Population
Lower River	Gambia	230000 people
North Bank	Gambia	150000 people
Kolda	Senegal	710000 people
Western	Gambia	390000 people
Kaolack	Senegal	960000 people
Ziguinchor	Senegal	460000 people

Affected populated places

Name	Region Province	Country	City class	Population	Distance
Banjul	Banjul	The Gambia	Capital	34000 people	80 km
Kaolack		Senegal	City	170000 people	85 km
Ziguinchor		Senegal	City	160000 people	103 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name	IATA Code	Elevation (m)	Usage	Runway type	IFR	Runway Length (ft)	Distance
Kaolack	KLC	8	Civ.	Paved	No	5200	84 km
Yundum International	BJL	29	Civ.	Paved	Yes	11800	87 km

Ports

Name	LOCODE	Country	Distance
Banjul	GMBJL	The Gambia	79 km
Kaolack	SNKLC	Senegal	85 km
Ziguinchor	SNZIG	Senegal	101 km
Foundiougne	SNFOU	Senegal	104 km

Dams

Nuclear plants

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.

Disclaimer
While we try everything to ensure accuracy, this information is purely indicative and should not be used for any decision making without alternate sources of information.
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