At least seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for after a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants attempting to reach European shores sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The dangerous voyage over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to the EU.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants reached the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and data indicates more than 9,000 migrants perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
After Wednesday's accident, the navy launched a search-and-rescue operation, using multiple navy ships and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defense officials reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a common pathway utilized by migrants attempting to enter Europe, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple Maghreb states designed to curtailing illegal migration.
