At least seven people have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for after a vessel transporting approximately 200 people trying to get to European shores capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
