At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others are missing after a craft transporting approximately two hundred people attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into European nations.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has forged deals with a number of North African nations designed to reducing illegal migration.
