At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost following a vessel carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African countries with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
