At least seven souls have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of North African countries aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
