A minimum of seven people have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a vessel ferrying about 200 migrants trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military said.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing undocumented migration.
