At least seven individuals have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for following a vessel carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night near the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities announced officially.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa trying to reach European nations.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy began a rescue mission, using a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry reported.
Authorities say some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, frequently via perilous trips by sea and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has reached agreements with a number of North African countries aimed at reducing undocumented migration.
