At least seven people lost their lives and many others are lost following a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight near 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 rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates over 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries designed to limiting irregular migration.
