A minimum of seven people have died and many others are missing after a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned late Wednesday night near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 people arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy began a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven victims who perished at sea were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has established pacts with several Maghreb states with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
