A minimum of seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost following a boat carrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 individuals reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 people perished trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers trying to reach European countries, often on dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
