At least seven people died and many others are missing after a boat carrying about 200 migrants capsized off the coast of The Gambia. The boat overturned around midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank Region. Later, it was found grounded on a sandbank, the Gambian Defence Ministry said. So far, 96 people have been rescued. The boat was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands. The Gambian Navy launched a search-and-rescue operation with several naval vessels and a fishing boat helping. Authorities say several victims are not Gambian nationals and are still being identified. Ten rescued people are in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care. The route from Africa to Europe via the Canary Islands is a dangerous journey. Nearly 47,000 migrants arrived there in 2024, while over 9,000 have died trying, according to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras. The Gambia is a key route for migrants taking these risky sea and land journeys to Europe. Recently, the European Union has made agreements with some North African countries to reduce irregular migration. "The bodies of the seven people who drowned have been recovered," the defence ministry confirmed. The search for missing passengers is ongoing.