No fewer than seven people have perished and many others are missing following a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a rescue mission, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the military said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with a number of Maghreb states designed to limiting irregular migration.
