At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are missing after a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", 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 on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who perished at sea have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a common pathway taken by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
