At least seven individuals have perished and many others are missing after a vessel carrying about 200 people trying to get to European shores capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants have died trying.
Rescue Operation
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Officials state a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries designed to limiting irregular migration.
