A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing after a craft transporting about 200 people attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
