No fewer than seven individuals have died and many others are missing following a boat carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway used by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
