At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost after a boat ferrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations aimed at reducing illegal migration.
