No fewer than seven people have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
