At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are lost after a boat carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
