A minimum of seven people have perished and many others are lost after a craft carrying approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African nations with the goal of curtailing irregular migration.
