A minimum of seven individuals have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting around two hundred migrants seeking to enter European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were on board the sunken boat that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost 47,000 individuals made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea were found, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations designed to reducing irregular migration.