At least seven individuals have perished and many others are missing in the wake of a craft transporting about 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Authorities say several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
