A minimum of seven people have died and a significant number are lost in the wake of a boat ferrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
