At least seven souls lost their lives and numerous others are lost following a vessel transporting approximately two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "stranded on a sandbar", the country's defence ministry announced officially.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Close to 47,000 people arrived at the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and data indicates over nine thousand individuals have died trying.
Rescue Operation
After Wednesday's accident, The Gambian Navy launched a search operation, using several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that came to assist, the defence ministry confirmed.
Officials state several of the victims are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by asylum seekers seeking to get to European countries, often on dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African nations with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
