A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost after a boat carrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of 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 were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
