A minimum of seven souls have perished and many others remain unaccounted for after a craft carrying approximately two hundred people seeking to enter Europe sank in waters near The Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of the village of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the capsized craft that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African asylum seekers seeking entry into Europe.
Almost 47,000 individuals reached the Canaries in 2024 and data indicates in excess of 9,000 people have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, Gambia's naval forces launched a search-and-rescue operation, using a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants trying to reach European countries, frequently via dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has forged deals with several Maghreb states with the goal of reducing illegal migration.
