A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel carrying approximately 200 people seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
