No fewer than seven people have perished and numerous others are lost after a vessel transporting around 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has forged deals with several North African countries aimed at curtailing irregular migration.
