A minimum of seven people have perished and numerous others are missing in the wake of a vessel ferrying around 200 migrants seeking to enter European shores sank in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized 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 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 traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, typically through perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African nations designed to reducing illegal migration.
