A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying around 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent overturned off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canaries in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
