At least seven souls have died and a significant number remain unaccounted for in the wake of a boat carrying approximately 200 migrants trying to get to European shores sank near the shoreline of The Gambia, officials state.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight in the vicinity of Jinack village in the North Bank area and it was afterwards located "grounded on a sandbank", the Gambian military authorities said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for those still missing who were aboard the capsized craft that was bound for the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into the EU.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canaries in 2024 and figures suggest over 9,000 people have lost their lives trying.
Ongoing Mission
In the aftermath of the disaster, the navy initiated a rescue mission, using multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the defense officials said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven individuals who drowned have been retrieved, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and receiving urgent medical care.
A Frequent Pathway
Gambia is a frequent corridor used by migrants attempting to enter the EU, often on perilous trips by sea and land.
Recently, the EU has established pacts with a number of North African countries designed to reducing irregular migration.
