At least seven people have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat carrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers trying to reach Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
