A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft transporting around two hundred migrants trying to get to Europe sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were traveling on the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Close to 47,000 individuals made it to the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 migrants have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that offered help, the defence ministry reported.
Officials state several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a common pathway taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several North African nations designed to limiting undocumented migration.
