At least seven souls have died and numerous others are lost in the wake of a boat transporting about 200 migrants trying to get to European shores overturned in waters near the Gambian coast, officials state.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to 47,000 individuals arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned were found, and a dozen of the saved are said to be in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
An Established Corridor
This West African nation is a frequent corridor used by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via perilous trips over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has reached agreements with a number of North African nations with the goal of curtailing undocumented migration.
