A minimum of seven souls have died and many others are missing following a vessel transporting about 200 migrants attempting to reach Europe sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry announced officially.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa attempting to get to European nations.
Close to 47,000 individuals reached the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defence ministry confirmed.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, frequently via dangerous journeys over water and land.
In recent years, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
