Banjul, January 02 (QNA) - At least seven people have died and dozens are missing after a boat carrying irregular migrants sank off the coast of Gambia, authorities have said.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Gambian government said it was aware of a tragic maritime incident involving a vessel believed to have been carrying more than 200 migrants.
The boat reportedly went down near the village of Ginack, in the country's North Bank Region.
Officials said at least 96 people had been rescued, many of them suffering from serious injuries.
The Gambian navy launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress call, deploying several naval vessels to the area.
Irregular migrants frequently attempt the dangerous Atlantic crossing to Spain's Canary Islands, seen as a gateway to Europe. However, tighter maritime controls along the coasts of Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco have pushed smugglers to use more distant departure points, particularly from Gambia and Guinea. (QNA)