A minimum of seven individuals have perished and many others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying around 200 people seeking to enter the European continent overturned near the shoreline of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the military reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African countries with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
