At least seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
