A minimum of seven people have died and a significant number are missing after a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night 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 rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who died were found, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with multiple North African nations with the goal of limiting undocumented migration.
