At least seven souls have perished and a significant number are lost after a craft ferrying about two hundred migrants seeking to enter the European continent capsized in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was afterwards located "stranded on a sandbar", the Gambian military authorities stated in a release.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were traveling on the sunken boat that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The hazardous trip over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African asylum seekers attempting to get to Europe.
Almost 47,000 people made it to the Spanish archipelago in 2024 and estimates in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy initiated a rescue mission, deploying several naval vessels and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Officials state some of the deceased are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven people who drowned have been retrieved, and a dozen of the saved are described as being in serious condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes taken by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, frequently via hazardous voyages over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has forged deals with multiple North African nations designed to limiting irregular migration.
