No fewer than seven souls have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a craft carrying approximately 200 people seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The boat overturned in the early hours of Thursday close to the village of Jinack in the North Bank Region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for the remaining passengers who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have died in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
In the aftermath of the disaster, The Gambian Navy launched a rescue mission, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the military said.
Officials state several of the victims are not from The Gambia and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor utilized by asylum seekers attempting to enter the EU, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European Union has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at reducing irregular migration.
