A minimum of seven individuals have died and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel transporting about 200 people seeking to enter European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African nations designed to curtailing irregular migration.
