A minimum of seven people lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for following a boat transporting about two hundred migrants attempting to reach the European continent capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
