No fewer than seven people have perished and numerous others are lost after a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
