At least seven people have died and numerous others are missing after a boat carrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent sank in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has forged deals with several Maghreb states with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
