At least seven people have died and many others are lost following a vessel ferrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, reports confirm.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for African asylum seekers attempting to get to the EU.
Nearly 47,000 people reached the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven people who died were found, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach Europe, often on hazardous voyages by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with several North African countries designed to limiting irregular migration.
