A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number are lost after a vessel ferrying about two hundred people seeking to enter Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at reducing illegal migration.
