No fewer than seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting approximately 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "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 on board the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
