A minimum of seven individuals have perished and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes used by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African nations designed to curtailing irregular migration.
