At least seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat ferrying around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 migrants have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with several Maghreb states aimed at limiting illegal migration.
