At least seven individuals have died and a significant number are lost after a boat carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Authorities say some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with a number of Maghreb states aimed at curtailing illegal migration.
