At least seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing following a craft transporting about two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
