No fewer than seven individuals have perished and many others are lost after a vessel transporting around two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
