No fewer than seven people have died and many others are lost following a vessel transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
