A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are lost after a craft ferrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, involving a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military reported.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter Europe, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
