At least seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a boat carrying approximately two hundred people trying to get to the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the northern 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 search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
