No fewer than seven souls have perished and many others are lost following a craft ferrying around two hundred people attempting to reach the European continent sank in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped late Wednesday night in the vicinity of Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was later found "stranded on a sandbar", the nation's defense ministry said in a statement.
96 individuals have been saved to date and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were aboard the sunken boat that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic Ocean has grown into a more frequent path for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.
Almost forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024 and data indicates in excess of nine thousand individuals perished in the attempt.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, the navy began a search operation, deploying multiple navy ships and a fishing vessel that joined the effort, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate a number of those who died are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The deceased of the seven victims who drowned were found, and ten of the survivors are said to be in serious condition and undergoing emergency treatment.
A Frequent Pathway
This West African nation is one of the routes used by migrants seeking to get to European countries, often on perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
In recent years, the EU has forged deals with a number of North African countries with the goal of reducing undocumented migration.
