No fewer than seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing following a craft ferrying approximately 200 people attempting to reach Europe sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the military said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with several Maghreb states with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
