A minimum of seven people have perished and many others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 people seeking to enter European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers trying to reach the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals perished during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of Maghreb states designed to reducing undocumented migration.
