A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
