At least seven individuals have perished and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers seeking to get to Europe, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
