A minimum of seven people have perished and many others remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying around 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, involving several naval vessels and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are reported to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages by sea and land.
Recently, the European bloc has established pacts with several North African nations aimed at limiting irregular migration.
