At least seven people lost their lives and many others are missing after a vessel carrying around two hundred migrants trying to get to the European continent sank in waters near The Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry 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 shipwrecked vessel that was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach the EU.
Close to 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in the year 2024 and estimates over nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying a number of military boats and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are foreign nationals and that their details are still being checked.
The deceased of the seven victims who died were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in critical condition and getting immediate medical attention.
A Frequent Pathway
The Gambia is one of the routes used by migrants seeking to get to the EU, typically through dangerous journeys across ocean and terrain.
Recently, the European bloc has reached agreements with several North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
