At least seven individuals have died and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft ferrying about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned off the coast of Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday near the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy began a rescue mission, involving several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway used by asylum seekers seeking to get to the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African countries with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
