At least seven individuals lost their lives and many others are missing in the wake of a boat transporting around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe overturned near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach European nations.
Nearly 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by migrants attempting to enter the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has reached agreements with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
