At least seven souls have perished and numerous others remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying about 200 migrants seeking to enter Europe sank off the coast of Gambia, officials state.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was later found "grounded on a sandbank", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for the remaining passengers who were on board the sunken boat that was heading towards the Canary Islands of Spain.
The dangerous voyage over the Atlantic Ocean has become an increasingly common route for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest in excess of 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a search operation, deploying several naval vessels and a commercial fishing craft that offered help, the military reported.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The bodies of the seven individuals who drowned have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in critical condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
This West African nation is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers attempting to enter European countries, typically through dangerous journeys by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has reached agreements with several North African countries with the goal of curtailing illegal migration.
