A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a vessel transporting approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized near the shoreline of the Gambian coast, officials state.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, involving multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defense officials confirmed.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who died have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African countries designed to curtailing irregular migration.
