A minimum of seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing in the wake of a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants seeking to enter Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
