No fewer than seven people have perished and a significant number are missing in the wake of a boat ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
