At least seven souls have died and many others are missing following a boat transporting approximately 200 migrants seeking to enter the European continent overturned off the coast of the Gambian coast, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search operation, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are reported to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants trying to reach European countries, often on hazardous voyages over water and land.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with several North African nations aimed at reducing illegal migration.
