A minimum of seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 migrants have lost their lives during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
