A minimum of seven people have perished and a significant number remain unaccounted for following a craft transporting about two hundred people trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized in the early hours of Thursday in the vicinity of Jinack in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a hunt is ongoing for the remaining passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants seeking entry into Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than nine thousand individuals have lost their lives in the attempt.
Rescue Operation
Following the Wednesday incident, The Gambian Navy began a search operation, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that came to assist, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned have been recovered, and a dozen of the saved are reported to be in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes utilized by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through dangerous journeys over water and land.
Over the past few years, the European Union has established pacts with several North African countries aimed at reducing irregular migration.
