At least seven individuals have perished and a significant number are lost after a craft carrying around 200 migrants trying to get to Europe capsized in waters near Gambia, authorities say.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "beached on a shoal", the nation's defense ministry stated in a release.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a search is continuing for those still missing who were on board the shipwrecked vessel that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for migrants from Africa attempting to get to Europe.
Close to forty-seven thousand migrants arrived at the Spanish archipelago in the year 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants have died during the journey.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces launched a search operation, deploying a number of military boats and a fishing vessel that came to assist, the military confirmed.
Reports indicate several of the victims are not Gambian nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The remains of the seven people who perished at sea have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants attempting to enter European countries, typically through hazardous voyages across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the EU has forged deals with several North African countries designed to curtailing undocumented migration.
