A minimum of seven individuals have died and numerous others are missing following a vessel transporting around two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates over 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who died have been recovered, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with multiple North African countries aimed at limiting illegal migration.
