A minimum of seven individuals have perished and many others are missing following a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
