A minimum of seven souls have perished and numerous others are missing following a boat ferrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "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 other passengers who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations with the goal of limiting illegal migration.
