A minimum of seven people have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
