At least seven people have died and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military reported.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African countries designed to limiting undocumented migration.
