A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a boat transporting about 200 people attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry confirmed.
Authorities say several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with a number of North African nations designed to limiting illegal migration.
