At least seven people lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a vessel carrying about two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African nations aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
