A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy initiated a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at limiting irregular migration.
