A minimum of seven individuals lost their lives and many others remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying about two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe overturned off the coast of The Gambia, authorities say.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants attempting to get to Europe.
Nearly 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defense officials said.
Authorities say a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven people who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at reducing illegal migration.
